The Demon Slayer Martial Saint Begins with Insect Refining

Chapter 405 Entering the Eastern Wilderness
With Helian Ming dead, and almost all the Dharma Aspect Realm Great Witches of the Hundred Caves Witch Sect dying at Su Yan's hands.

After the war, the entire Hundred Caves Witch Clan was practically destroyed.

Su Yan led his ferocious insects directly to the Witch Cave. The two elders at the ninth level of the Dharma Aspect Realm who were suppressing the Witch Cave didn't even have time to react before they became food for the Blood Prison Heavenly Demon Centipede.

The ancient insects of the spirit realm searched for the secret realm, and sure enough, the treasure vault of the Witch Cave was also in the secret realm. It was completely looted by Su Yan, with four or five hundred million spirit stones alone.

For a sect with a Golden Body Realm expert in charge, this number is already quite large.

"Qiyang spiritual herbs, black bone bloodwood... there are also seven or eight fifth-grade natural treasures. The foundation of the Hundred Caves Witch Clan is not bad."

The Hundred Caves Witch Gate has a treasure trove in the Witch Cave, but each tribe also has its own savings, but Su Yan has no way to collect them all.

After all, once the news spread, the various tribes scattered like birds and beasts and went into hiding.

Even if he had the ability, he wouldn't have the energy to visit every tribe.

However, the treasure trove of the Witch Cave alone was enough to make Su Yan rich overnight.

Among the accumulated treasures of the Hundred Caves Witch Clan, the number of rare and precious materials was far greater than he had expected. These treasures were enough for him to refine a batch of pills for his cultivation.

After dealing with the matters of the Hundred Caves Witch Clan, Su Yan went straight to the place where the three fourth-tier ferocious insects were hiding, as provided by Bai Yun and Nangong Hongyue.

The Ten Thousand Mountains are a complex network of mountain ranges, home to numerous sects and tribes, as well as many wild beasts that claim territory and rule over their own domains.

Bai Yun knew the importance of Su Yan's ferocious insects to Su Yan, and while hunting second- and third-tier ferocious insects, she was also constantly collecting clues about fourth-tier ferocious insects.

The three ferocious insects they discovered were the Black Crystal Insect King of the Earth Vein in the Black Soil Mountains, the Shadow Ghost Spider in the Ghost Forest, and the Devouring Tiger Moth in the Ten Thousand Bones Cave.

Su Yan went directly to their door and immediately used the Nine Dragons Imprisoning Demon Cover. Once they were trapped, the Ten Thousand Insects Suppressing Tower would be used to suppress them, and the refining process would begin.

The Earth Vein Black Crystal Insect King and the Shadow Ghost-Faced Spider were both subdued by Su Yan without warning.

The Devouring Tiger-Headed Moth was the most cunning, as it actually teamed up with a Fiend Tiger. On the surface, it was the territory of a fourth-tier calamity beast, but in reality, it was the territory of two fourth-tier calamity beasts.

If an ordinary person were to come looking for trouble, they would naturally be caught off guard by this situation.

But Su Yan laughed instead. No matter how strong a fourth-tier cultivator was, they really couldn't cause him too much trouble.

The Ten Thousand Insects Prison Tower suppressed the two beasts. Su Yan refined the Devouring Tiger-Headed Moth, but the Earthly Fiend Qilin Tiger did not spare its life.

While the Beast King Sect's secret techniques allow for the contracting of beasts, the Earthly Fiend Qilin Tiger and the Devouring Sky Tiger-Headed Moth are close friends. Seeing the Devouring Sky Tiger-Headed Moth being refined in this way and having its will taken away, it may harbor resentment, and keeping it alive would be a hidden danger.

Its flesh, bones, and muscles, if exchanged for rare and precious materials, would be perfect for enhancing the strength of Nangong Hongyue and Bai Yun's original spiritual artifacts.
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"News has spread from the Ten Thousand Mountains that Su Yan, the acting Grand Commandant who travels the world, has destroyed the Hundred Caves Witch Clan."

Inside the Eastern Wilderness Prefecture, the old monk lowered his eyes. There were five old monks present, the leader of whom was an old monk with drooping skin, dark eye bags, and wearing a kasaya.

"The Hundred Caves Witch Clan has a Golden Body expert like Helian Ming, and no one has personally witnessed him making the move. I don't believe it."

The scarred monk narrowed his eyes, and a powerful aura surged from his body.

"Huichen has no choice but to believe it. Grand Commandant Hong dares to let him travel the world, and that's his confidence. But I don't know what he wants."

There are no famous Buddhist sects or schools within Lingnan Prefecture, but there is a temple in Donghuang Prefecture—Dongxuan Temple.

Although not as powerful as the Four Great Sects of the Eastern Wilderness, it still has the Golden Body Realm Zen Master Mingxuan presiding over it, making it a formidable sect.

However, Zen Master Mingxuan and the four Dharma Realm elders of Dongxuan Temple, Huizang, Huihai, Huichen, and Huizhen, were frowning at this moment.

This was because Su Yan, who was preparing to help Grand Marshal Hong travel the world and suppress Buddhism, had already been staying in Lingnan Prefecture for quite some time.

Although we don't know his exact itinerary, given how close he is to Donghuang Prefecture, he will probably visit soon.

"Grand Commandant Hong said that suppressing Buddhism is not the same as slaughtering Buddhists. Simply saying that one's heart is with the Dali Kingdom is enough to overcome this calamity. It's better for us..."

Huizang, standing to the side, hesitated somewhat. Dongxuan Temple was not a major temple; among the Buddhist sects in the thirteen prefectures of Da Yi, it barely ranked in the top twenty.

Why should they bother to be the ones sticking their noses out?

Zen Master Mingxuan sighed: "A messenger from Daoxuan Temple has come to ask us to inquire of the Marquis of Champion how he views our Buddhist sect."

Upon hearing this, all four were taken aback, followed by a long silence and a sigh.

Now that the Upside-Down Temple has sent a letter, they have no way out.

"Please send the Buddhist disciples in the temple to the Upside-Down Temple for practice."

Huihai remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

They accepted the trouble, but the sect's lineage could not be broken.

Indeed.
-
Eastern Wilderness Prefecture, Eastern Pole City

As soon as Su Yan stepped into the city gate, a demon-suppressing guard respectfully approached him.

"Paying respects to the Marquis of Champion"

Upon seeing the visitor, Su Yan smiled and said, "It's been a long time, Headmaster Ji. How have you been?"

The visitor was Ji Yarong, one of the leaders of the Demon Suppression Guard.

Su Yan had met her a few times when they were quelling the rebellion in the Eastern Wilderness Prefecture, but not during the siege of the Poison Man Sect.

Rather, it was during the time when the Poison Man Sect was suppressed, and the supporting Demon Suppression Guards were handing over their duties to the Demon Suppression Guards of the Eastern Wilderness Prefecture.

Although they had only met a few times, Su Yan was still deeply impressed by this young man who was in charge of the mansion. After all, a martial artist who could enter the Dharma Aspect realm before the age of three hundred was a genius anywhere.

Ji Yarong smiled and said, "Thanks to the help of Marquis of Champion, the order under the jurisdiction of Donghuang Prefecture has improved a lot after the Poison Man Sect was wiped out."

Su Yan and his group wiped out the Poison Man Sect completely. Whether they were involved or not, as long as they showed any signs of wrongdoing, they were all dealt with.

After all, it was Zhongzhou that came to quell the rebellion. Suppressing the rebellion is an achievement, and what they swept up during the process is also a reward.
Therefore, the entire Eastern Wilderness Prefecture was reorganized back then, and only the four sects of the Eastern Wilderness Prefecture and the Eastern Profound Temple, which closed their mountain gates, were slightly less affected.

Su Yan smiled, looked at the group of demon-suppressing guards, and asked, "Prefect Ji knew of my arrival and personally came to welcome me. I suppose you have official business to attend to?"

"To be honest, I have been waiting here for more than three months."

Ji Yarong gave a helpless smile: "The Marquis of Champion went south to Lingnan Prefecture. Everyone said that you should go to Donghuang Prefecture first. There are quite a few people who have been looking forward to it for the past three months."

"Appreciate further details"

Su Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing a hint of curiosity.

"The current successors of the four major sects of the Eastern Wilderness Prefecture—the Yellow Elephant Sect, the Twin Moon Sect, the Five Spirits Sect, and the Heavenly Support Sect—have all begun to travel the world. The remaining minor sects' Dharma Aspect True Persons and independent cultivators are also traveling. Since you came south, there have been seven Dharma Aspect duels in the Eastern Wilderness Prefecture alone. The successors of the four sects are ready to go and all want to see the Champion Marquis's demeanor."

The emergence of the Dragon Gate Ranking caused a stir throughout the land. Behind this was not only immense fame and fortune, but also the great fortune of the Great Li Dynasty, and a struggle for the Dao.

Ji Yarong paused slightly, then lowered her voice: "The people from Dongxuan Temple are also starting to make moves."

Su Yan holds two identities: a special envoy of the Demon Suppression Guard and the fifth-ranked member of the Dragon Gate Ranking. The title of Special Envoy of the Demon Suppression Guard is granted by imperial authority and is held by Grand Marshal Hong. Its significance is entirely different in the eyes of the Demon Suppression Guard, the local prefect, and the Buddhist community.

"This is also why the town magistrate and the prefect asked me to invite the Marquis of Champion for a talk."

Su Yan was slightly surprised, then nodded: "I'll trouble you, Manager Ji, to lead the way."

"Come with me."

Ji Yarong came with orders, but she put the meeting order last and instead said a lot of other things, which seemed like an oversight but were actually all tips.

Even Su Yan, with his keen mind, couldn't help but sigh upon seeing Ji Yarong, "This woman truly has excellent skills and a clever mind."

As Ji Yarong headed towards the city lord's mansion, one of her subordinates had already gone to inform him.

After entering the main gate and arriving at the inner courtyard of the city lord's mansion, Ji Yarong pointed to a quiet hall and said, "The prefect and the town magistrate are inside."

Su Yan nodded slightly, then strode towards the hall.

After the rebellion of the Poison Man Sect, the Eastern Wilderness Prefecture changed its governor. The current governor is named Pang Mi, who was recommended by the eldest prince, Li Xuanyang. He comes from the Qintian Academy and is also a Golden Body Realm martial artist, but it seems that he does not practice killing techniques.

The magistrate was the same person as before, but he had just retreated from the battlefield with the Wu Kingdom on the border. His name was Dai Jingtong, and he was a man of unyielding integrity.

Su Yan entered the hall and was greeted by two people sitting on his left and right, one a scholar and the other a warrior. Their eyes were bright and their gazes fell on him, looking him up and down.

Su Yan bowed slightly and greeted Prefect Pang and Garrison Commander Dai: "Greetings."

"No need for such formalities, Marquis of Champion."

Pang Mi spoke first. He was dressed in white with bamboo patterns embroidered on the cuffs, looking like a scholar, and had a standard kind smile on his face.

When working, one should address others by their official titles. As a prefect who had long served in the officialdom, he had no intention of being presumptuous at this moment.

The town magistrate, Dai Jingtong, who was standing to the side, also said, "Marquis of Champion, please sit down. You hold a noble title and are a special envoy, so you cannot be too polite."

Neither of them showed any condescension towards Su Yan.

It wasn't just Su Yan's identity, but also his strength.

Although I didn't witness it firsthand, the fifth-ranked person on the Dragon Gate Ranking might not be without the ability to fight against someone at the Golden Body Realm.

"Thank you sir"

Su Yan landed to the side, and Pang Mi then spoke up: "Seeing is believing. I have long admired the name of the Champion Marquis, and now that I have met him, I know even more that the Champion Marquis is no ordinary person. His reputation on the Dragon Gate List is well-deserved. The successors of the Four Sects of the Eastern Wilderness are probably going to suffer a great loss."

Although Su Yan did not reveal his strength in person, both of them sensed an unusual aura emanating from him.

Although it was only a trace, they trusted their intuition as Golden Body Realm experts.

"You flatter me, sir."

Su Yan gave a polite reply and chatted with the two for a while. After drinking half a cup of tea, he finally steered the conversation to the main topic.

"You two gentlemen summoned me here, surely it's about the Buddhist sect in the Eastern Wilderness Prefecture?"

When the topic was brought up, the town magistrate Dai Jingtong's expression turned slightly serious, and he nodded: "That's the first point."

"Firstly?"

Su Yan looked at the other person with a surprised expression.

Dai Jingtong continued, “The Buddhist sect in Donghuang Prefecture is the first blow the Marquis of Champion will strike against Buddhism. The brothers of the Demon Suppression Guard are watching, as are the Buddhist forces in the remaining ten prefectures. Whether it is light or heavy, there must be some rules to follow so that my brothers of the Demon Suppression Guard can handle things.”

These words were spoken calmly, but beneath that calm lay a deadly intent.

If it's too heavy.

Su Yan had no doubt that Dai Jingtong in front of him would divide the Demon Suppression Guards into three layers, secretly and openly planting spies, and attracting the town government's army, or even the Demon Suppression Army, to surround Qingyu County, where Dongxuan Temple was located, making them and their affiliated forces into fish on a chopping board.

If things were handled more leniently, there would be martial law and lockdown, with the perpetrators dealt with leniently, avoiding any preparations for a bloody confrontation. However, figuring out how to report to superiors and how to handle the situation would require more careful consideration, lest any future troubles arise and ultimately bring disaster upon him.

Su Yan, knowing Dai Jingtong's thoughts, asked, "Has Dongxuan Temple contacted the town magistrate?"

“The old monk Mingxuan did convey a message to me, but I declined. All matters should be decided by the Marquis of Champion, with the Demon Suppression Guard cooperating. Currently, the Demon Suppression Guard is stationed at the pass of Qingyu County, maintaining strict control without sealing off the area, and keeping a close eye on everything.”

Dai Jingtong didn't hide anything and left the responsibility for this matter to Su Yan.

Upon hearing this, Su Yan's face showed a thoughtful expression.

"What does Magistrate Pang think?"

He posed the question to Pang Mi, who, having come here, was clearly not simply there to watch the show.

Upon hearing Su Yan's question, Pang Mi pondered for a long time before saying, "Please be cautious, Marquis Champion. Dongxuan Temple is located in Qingyu County, with the Golden Body Martial Artist Mingxuan presiding over it. It has a great influence in the county, and the families and industries involved are particularly large. The number of disciples alone is probably no less than three or four thousand. If you include its subordinate forces and disciples' families, the number is probably no less than tens of thousands..."

Pang Mi's expression turned grim: "If we execute them all or expel them, I'm afraid Qingyu County will rebel."

Rebellion is no simple matter.

If one of the Eastern Wilderness Prefectures rebels, then outside of the Eastern Wilderness Prefecture, not counting the Lingnan Prefecture, other Buddhist sects will likely also take action.

Although it was not as dramatic as the upheaval in Xizhou Prefecture, the shock it caused was no less significant.

They may not have the power to overthrow the Dali Dynasty, but they will definitely cripple the various prefectures.

As the Prefect of Donghuang Prefecture, especially since he had just taken over the administration of Donghuang Prefecture, he absolutely could not allow such a big problem to occur during his tenure.

Moreover, this was not just his personal opinion, but also represented the opinion of the local clans. After all, Dongxuan Temple was second only to the four major sects of Donghuang, and the number of people connected with them was not limited to Qingyu County.

Su Yan looked at the two of them and suddenly smiled: "How should we handle this? Didn't my teacher draw a line for them?"

Loyal to the Dali era, with hearts set on the Dali era.

They can't possibly not understand something as simple as this line.

Pang Mi gave a wry smile: "Being loyal to Dali is not easy to define."

Words alone are not enough; you need to produce something tangible.

However, if this is brought up without a set procedure, we can't expect the Buddhist sect to hand over its entire sect; that would be worse than rebellion.

As they were talking, five old monks slowly walked out of Dongji City, chanting Buddhist prayers with each step, which gradually spread throughout the entire city.

"Amitabha, please let the Champion Marquis appear for a chat."

(End of this chapter)