Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 706 The Demon Lord's Rebirth
The rain had not stopped, and the world was shrouded in mist.

Just then, from the depths of the rain, several figures slowly emerged and walked towards Liang Jin's direction.

Their steps were heavy, carrying the weariness of surviving a disaster, and an indescribable sense of dread.

The one leading the group was the monk Beikong.

His bald head gleamed coldly in the rain, and his face, which usually carried a mixture of compassion and calculation, now showed only undisguised awe, and even a hint of barely perceptible fear.

Following behind him were the remaining members of the Demon Extermination Conference.

Compared to their high spirits when they entered Yaoshui City, they now appeared disheveled, their numbers significantly reduced, many bearing injuries, dressed in rags, and exuding a listless aura.

They were lucky to have survived.

However, what is more profound than the physical trauma is the shock to the soul.

All eyes were drawn to the figure standing quietly in the center of the ruins—Liang Jin.

Their eyes were incredibly complex, filled with gratitude and relief, but even more so with an almost overflowing fear that came from the depths of their souls!

They originally thought they had overestimated this great and wise teacher.

He could easily defeat Bei Yi, control the raging wind, and his methods were unpredictable.

But until today, I witnessed firsthand that battle, a clash between gods and demons, taking place amidst dark clouds and lightning; I saw the once invincible Demon Lord of Wuxu fall like a meteorite, ultimately blasted to obliterate his remains...

They were horrified to realize how ridiculous and superficial their previous understanding had been!
They knew absolutely nothing about Liang Jin's power!
It is a power that transcends the limits of mortal imagination, an absolute power capable of dominating the fate of all living beings and changing the landscape!
Faced with such power, these so-called heroes of the martial arts world and scions of prestigious families are as insignificant as ants.

At this moment, under Liang Jin's calm yet penetrating gaze, they even felt an urge to turn around and run away.

The gaze wasn't fierce, but it carried a condescending indifference, as if scrutinizing something insignificant.

Those who had spoken disrespectfully to Liang Jin, either openly or covertly, at Bei Kong's instigation, turned pale and their legs went weak, fearing that this god of death would settle scores later.

Given Liang Jin's demonstrated strength and his seemingly gentle yet ruthless style of doing things, taking their lives would probably be easier than crushing an insect.

Finally, under immense pressure, they steeled themselves and walked to a spot several feet away from Liang Jin. They stopped and, with utmost respect, even a hint of obsequiousness and fear, bowed deeply, their voices trembling and distorted in the rain.
"Greetings...Greetings to the Great and Wise Teacher!"

"Congratulations to the Great and Wise Teacher... for your swift and decisive actions in slaying the Demon King and saving... the people of Nanzhou from suffering!"

Liang Jin's gaze slowly swept over them, like a gentle breeze across the water, without causing ripples, yet making everyone feel as if they had been pricked by an invisible needle, sending chills down their spines.

He understood that these people were different from the mountain dwellers who had lived here for generations. They came from the Great Qian Dynasty and were people of the martial arts world. They were destined to leave this mountain and take what they had seen and heard back to the Central Plains, spreading it with embellishments.

To kill them and cover up what happened today?
The thought flashed through Liang Jin's mind, but he immediately dismissed it.

There were too many witnesses on the scene: the subjects of Yaoshui Kingdom, the routed demon army, caravans from all over the country... the news simply could not be completely blocked.

More importantly, these days, hiding one's strength is no longer necessary.

Meanwhile, the imperial army is gathering near Minzhou and will sooner or later take action against the small court established by Zhao Xiling.

With the next major battle imminent, there's little need to hide our strength anymore.

He needs prestige, the kind of reputation that makes the enemy fearful before the battle even begins!

"The matter here is settled. You may return to the Central Plains on your own."

Liang Jin spoke, his voice calm yet clear enough to reach everyone's ears, carrying an undeniable authority:
"I have other important matters to attend to, so I will not be traveling with you all."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and their tense nerves instantly relaxed. Some even secretly wiped the beads of water on their foreheads, unsure whether they were rain or cold sweat.

They exchanged a quick glance, both seeing the relief in each other's eyes.

"I will humbly obey the teachings of the Great and Virtuous Teacher!"

"I'll take my leave!"

They bowed again in unison, their movements much quicker than when they arrived. Then they turned around and, almost impatiently, disappeared into the rain, hurrying away towards the city outskirts, afraid that if they were even a step too slow, they would change their minds.

Only when the monk Beikong turned around did he pause slightly, as if he wanted to turn back and say something, his lips trembling slightly.

But in the end, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. His bald head drooped even lower in the rain. He quickened his pace and caught up with the fleeing group, his back looking somewhat hunched and forlorn.

Just then, the area in the distance where intense energy collisions had been taking place fell completely silent.

The sound of rain seemed to become clearer.

Liang Jin felt a slight stirring in his heart, realizing that the life force belonging to the Queen of Yaoshui, imbued with a moist aura, had disappeared.

"It seems that Wu Ling has won."

really.

A moment later, a petite black figure emerged from the rain like a ghost, arriving in a few leaps – it was Wu Ling.

Her breathing was somewhat rapid, and the aura surrounding her had not yet completely subsided, indicating the intensity of the battle that had just taken place.

But her emotions were clearly in a state of excitement.

What's even more striking is that she was carrying a corpse in her hand.

The corpse was dressed in a magnificent but tattered royal robe, with a graceful figure; it was none other than Queen Yaoshui!
But at this moment, this once noble body is in a terrible state.

The corpse was covered with countless tiny, colorful worms that frantically gnawed at the flesh, creating numerous small holes in the body and crawling in and out of them with a chilling rustling sound.

Some parts have even been gnawed away, exposing the bare white bones.

The ruthlessness and cruelty with which Wu Ling attacked demonstrate the depth of her hatred for Queen Yaoshui, a hatred so profound that even the waters of the Three Rivers and Five Lakes could not wash it away.

"Whee!"

Wu Ling let out a light laugh filled with pleasure and smugness, casually tossing the corpse being devoured by countless insects into the mud in front of Liang Jin, as if discarding a piece of trash.

She raised her masked face, her tone carrying a hint of defiant boasting:

"A truly wise and virtuous teacher, indeed keeping his promise, is a remarkable person!"

She lightly kicked the corpse of Queen Yaoshui with her toe, causing the Gu worms on it to stir. Her tone became somewhat sarcastic:

"Seeing this wretched woman's beautiful body ruined like this by my little darlings, I wonder if the Great Teacher would feel... sorry for her?"

"After all, she was kneeling in front of you before, looking pitiful and wanting to submit to you."

The way the body of Queen Yaoshui was treated immediately provoked a violent reaction from the surrounding Yaoshui citizens.

Upon seeing this, the ordinary people knelt down and wept bitterly, their cries sounding especially sorrowful and desolate amidst the sound of rain.

The surviving nobles and ministers scrambled over, kneeling in a circle in the mud, desperately kowtowing towards Liang Jin and Wu Ling, shouting their willingness to submit and begging for forgiveness, their voices filled with fear and humility.

Looking at the corpse that was rapidly being eroded by Gu worms and becoming unrecognizable, Feng Wu, standing to the side, had a complex and unfathomable emotion flash in her eyes and couldn't help but shake her head slightly.

Although she had no real relationship with Queen Yaoshui, they were acquaintances. Seeing a once high and mighty queen fall into such a miserable state, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.

Liang Jin ignored the cries and pleas around him, his gaze not lingering on the corpse of Queen Yaoshui for even a second longer.

He simply looked at the spirit and said in a calm tone:
"Congratulations to the Grand Master Wuling, your wish has been fulfilled and your great revenge has been avenged."

He abruptly changed the subject and got straight to the point:

"Now that the Demon Lord of Wuxu has been executed and the Queen of Yaoshui has been beheaded, my promise to the Grand Preceptor has been fulfilled."

"I am about to return to the Central Plains. I wonder if the Grand Preceptor of Wuling Kingdom... would be willing to accompany me?"

Upon hearing this, the smug smile on Wu Ling's lips froze instantly and then vanished without a trace.

She seemed to be pricked by a needle, and abruptly took two steps back. The pair of bright eyes behind the mask instantly turned sharp and wary, staring intently at Liang Jin, and her voice turned cold:

"Go with me? If I don't want to go, does the Great Teacher intend to... force me to go?"

Her tone was full of wariness and probing, and her aura became subtly unstable.

Liang Jin shook his head slightly, his tone still devoid of any emotion, instead carrying a deliberate gentleness:

"Why does the Witch Spirit Grand Preceptor say such a thing?"

"We fought side by side and are close friends. How could I possibly force my friend?"

He deliberately emphasized the words "closest friends".

Upon hearing this, Wu Ling not only did not relax, but instead took two more steps back, widening the distance between herself and Liang Jin, and said in a deep voice:

"In that case, I have important matters to attend to, so I will take my leave!"

Her tone was firm:

"If you want to return to the Central Plains, then go back by yourself."

"If I ever want to find you, I will naturally go looking for you."

She seemed unwilling to say anything more, raising her small hand and waving casually at Liang Jin, her tone carrying a deliberately crafted sense of distance:

"I won't say more. We'll meet again someday, if fate allows!"

Before she finished speaking, her black feathered robe fluttered without wind, and she shot out like a nimble swallow, quickly disappearing into the dense rain. In just a few leaps, she was gone, vanishing into the ruins and the end of the streets at an astonishing speed.

Liang Jin stood there, gazing in the direction where the witch spirit had disappeared, his brows furrowing slightly.

Leaving now?

Moreover, he left so decisively, and his attitude changed so abruptly and coldly.

This was indeed somewhat unexpected for him.

In his original plan, he had helped her avenge her great grudge. Even if she was not grateful and knelt down to submit, she should at least remain friendly and even be willing to offer some help.

Despite a slight feeling of being "let down," Liang Jin did not intervene.

Since he has stated that he will not force anyone, he will not go back on his word.

The witch is a mysterious and unpredictable person with strange methods. Rather than forcibly creating enmity, it would be better to let her go for the time being and form a good relationship. Perhaps at some crucial moment in the future, it will have an unexpected effect.

Consider it a long-term investment.

However... Wu Ling's sudden departure did disrupt another of Liang Jin's plans.

His gaze subtly shifted slightly, landing on Feng Wu, who had been standing quietly to his side.

According to Wu Ling, it would be extremely dangerous for Liang Jin to seize Feng Wu's Xuanfeng essence blood.

However, Feng Wu said that the essence blood of the Xuanfeng is very gentle and can coexist peacefully with the essence blood of another kind of divine beast without causing conflict.

But Liang Jin already had two kinds of essence and blood in his body.

Although Liang Jin guessed that the reason why there was no conflict between the two types of essence blood in his body was because one of the essence blood was a perfect fusion performed by the system.

In this way, even if there is a lot of Feng Wu's essence blood, nothing will happen.

But this is just speculation.

Even when it really came down to that step, Liang Jin still had no idea what to do.

Therefore, Liang Jin's initial plan was that when he was seizing the Xuanfeng essence blood from Feng Wu's body, Wu Ling would be there to protect him.

With Wu Ling's knowledge and strength, she would definitely be able to help if any unexpected problems arose during this process.

But now that Wu Ling has suddenly turned her back on him and left, Liang Jin's plan has been ruined.

Liang Jin didn't offer any help just now because he was afraid that Wu Ling would misunderstand and think that he was just making excuses to force her to stay.

He could only put aside the matter of seizing Feng Wu's essence blood and wait until he met Wu Ling again to ask for her help.

But Liang Jin naturally couldn't let everything take its course.

Once he returns to the Minzhou Palace and resolves the issue of the crowding, he will inevitably return to Nanzhou to search for the witch spirit.

For now, they can only keep Feng Wu by their side and wait to extract her essence blood again next time.

In the blink of an eye, Liang Jin had made his decision.

He turned to Feng Wu, his voice softening, carrying a seemingly considerate gentleness, and said:
“Miss Fengwu, I don’t think you are fully prepared for your first time.”

He paused and continued:
"Since that's the case, there's no need to rush to seize the essence blood. How about this, you come with me to leave Nanzhou and head to the Central Plains."

"The Central Plains are a vast region, with scenery and customs quite different from those of the Southern States. This is a good opportunity to relax, calm my mind, and adapt to the new environment." He looked into Feng Wu's eyes, his tone sincere.

"We can fulfill our agreement when you feel ready, both physically and mentally, at your best. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Wu's delicate body trembled slightly. She raised her head, her beautiful eyes revealing obvious astonishment and hesitation.

"I……"

She was definitely not ready.

At this moment, she was filled with fear and resistance as she was asked to immediately fulfill the promise of "giving everything".

She hadn't expected Liang Jin to be so "considerate" as to offer to postpone the meeting. This surprised her, but also filled her with genuine gratitude, and her tense nerves relaxed a little.

As for leaving this mountain where I was born and raised...

This suggestion filled Feng Wu with a strange sense of unease, an instinctive fear of the unknown world outside.

But at the same time, a long-suppressed yearning and curiosity for the vast world also quietly began to grow in my heart.

Her homeland, Wuli, has been reduced to ashes, her clansmen have all perished, and the blood feud has been avenged.

In this place of sorrow, she truly had no more attachments.

Liang Jin had spoken, and for both reason and emotion, she could not refuse, nor should she refuse.

He kept his promise, and she should be ready to keep hers too.

Thinking of this, Feng Wu took a deep breath, suppressed the chaotic thoughts in her heart, forced a calm expression onto her face, and said solemnly to Liang Jin:
"Rest assured, Great Teacher, Feng Wu has made a vow and will never go back on it."

"I will always stay by your side and follow your instructions until... the final agreement is fulfilled!"

Seemingly afraid that Liang Jin would misunderstand, she quickly added, a barely perceptible blush rising on her face:

"Actually... I've always wanted to see the world outside the mountains, but I've never had the chance before."

"Now, it's a good opportunity for me to go and see for myself."

Liang Jin nodded in satisfaction; Feng Wu's compliance saved him a lot of trouble.

"So good."

"There's no time to lose, I'll take you away now."

After saying that, Liang Jin had a thought and began to circulate the "Wind and Shadow Steps" technique within his body.

"call--!"

A fierce gust of wind suddenly appeared out of nowhere around him, whipping up the puddles and fallen leaves on the ground and making a howling sound.

With a wave of his hand, a gentle yet resilient internal force, like an invisible ribbon, gently wrapped around Feng Wu's slender waist.

Then, under the astonished gazes of countless people around them, Liang Jin, carrying Feng Wu, rose up from the ground with the howling wind and floated lightly into the air.

The two figures sped past the crumbling city walls and over the boundless primeval jungle below, which resembled a green ocean, heading towards the direction beyond the mountains. Soon, they became two small dots on the rainy horizon.

The city of Yaoshui, left behind by them, remained in ruins and chaos.

Countless Yaoshui people stood bewildered in the ruins and rain, gazing in the direction where the sacred tree had collapsed and where the queen had died, their eyes filled with helplessness and confusion.

The pillar of their faith collapsed, the queen of the kingdom fell, and they seemed to lose all direction overnight, their future shrouded in mist.

Those remaining demonic troops had already lost their morale when the Demon Lord of Wuxu was defeated and killed.

Seeing that the witch spirit had also left, the magical beasts that had been controlled by the witch spirit with secret magic all lost control. After letting out a final, frantic roar, they convulsed and collapsed to the ground, dying one after another.

The demon army completely lost its will to fight. Someone shouted, and the remnants of the army, like headless flies, abandoned their armor and fled for their lives in the direction of the demon capital.

Who could have imagined that this earth-shattering battle, which was thought to determine the final fate of Nanzhou, would end so swiftly and abruptly?

…………

Two days later.

Nanzhou City, the government office.

Liang Jin has safely returned with Feng Wu.

He sat high on the main seat in the council chamber, relaxed yet exuding an aura of authority that commanded respect without anger.

Lu Qiannan, Wen Hengrong, and other core members of the Taiping Dao stood on both sides with their hands at their sides, creating a solemn atmosphere.

Since Liang Jin went to pursue the fleeing Bei Yi alone that day, the Taiping Dao members have been patiently waiting in Nanzhou City as he instructed, while closely monitoring the movements of all parties.

Now, we have finally seen the return of our pillar of support.

At this moment, almost all the high-ranking members of the Taiping Dao were consciously or unconsciously observing the unfamiliar girl standing quietly beside Liang Jin, their gazes filled with various complex emotions.

Feng Wu was indeed exceptionally beautiful. Even after experiencing numerous hardships and her clothes were covered in dust, her natural beauty could not be concealed.

Her beauty is completely different from Lu Qiannan's heroic spirit and Wen Hengrong's gentleness, yet each has its own strengths and is in no way inferior.

Moreover, the scorching and sharp aura emanating from her clearly indicated that her strength was by no means just for show, and was even on par with Lu and Wen.

When everyone saw Feng Wu's obedient and submissive attitude towards Liang Jin, countless speculations and ripples arose in their hearts.

Who is this stunningly beautiful girl who suddenly appeared beside the Great Teacher of Virtue? What is her background? What is her relationship with the Great Teacher of Virtue?
Suppressing her doubts, Lu Qiannan stepped forward, bowed, and reported in a clear voice:
"Reporting to the Great Master, urgent military intelligence has arrived from Minzhou."

She raised her head, her expression grave:
"The imperial army has completed its assembly at the border of Minzhou, and supplies of grain and provisions are arriving continuously."

"According to the scouts, the enemy vanguard has begun a probing attack, and it will probably be long before they launch a full-scale offensive!"

Upon hearing this, Liang Jin showed no surprise, as if he had already expected it.

For the imperial court and Emperor Zhao Yu, the existence of the Minzhou court was like a thorn in their side, an absolute and intolerable act of usurpation.

This battle was destined to be inevitable from the moment Zhao Xiling raised her flag in Minzhou.

Previously, Liang Jin might have felt some pressure facing such a large-scale, all-out attack from the imperial court.

But now, having experienced the ultimate battle against the Demon Lord of Wuxu and personally verified the terrifying power of the Destruction Armor, his confidence has risen to a new level.

"Send the order!"

Liang Jin's voice, calm yet carrying an undeniable decisiveness, echoed in the hall:

"Everyone, prepare immediately and depart today to return to Minju!"

His gaze swept over the crowd, carrying an air of domineering confidence:

"Since the imperial court wants to come, then let them come."

"Perfect opportunity! Let the world see clearly—the Blue Heaven is dead! The Yellow Heaven shall rise!"

Sensing the powerful confidence and authority in Liang Jin's words, the members of the Taiping Dao were invigorated. Their worries of the past few days seemed to vanish, and they responded in unison:
"I'll obey!"

Soon, the group stopped delaying, packed their belongings, and boarded the large ship that had been prepared.

The fleet set sail along the turbulent Xuan River, heading towards Minzhou.

…………

Nanzhou.

This is a wild land covered by endless mountains and primeval forests.

In the ancient language of Nanzhou, "峒" originally meant a mountain cave.

In the distant ancient times, human ancestors used these natural caves as shelters from wind and rain, as well as places to protect themselves from wild beasts, and where they multiplied and thrived.

Even today, with a certain level of civilization, many ethnic groups in the Southern Continent still follow ancient traditions and live in caves of all sizes for generations.

Therefore, many ethnic groups use "峒" as a suffix in their names.

At the southernmost tip of Nanzhou, in a place considered a forbidden zone of civilization and teeming with barbarism, living conditions are even harsher.

It is said that the Owl Army, which once struck fear into the hearts of all the tribes of Nanzhou and kept them awake at night, originated from Owl Cave, the southernmost point of Nanzhou.

The people of Owl Cave live together with the fierce night owls in dark and damp caves. Only through this deep "feeling" cultivated from infancy can the owl warriors and the giant owls achieve such a close and seamless cooperation.

At the southernmost tip of Nanzhou, there are numerous "Dong people" like Xiaodong who maintain a primitive and savage way of life, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges.

The mountains of Nanzhou are continuous, and there are countless naturally formed caves, like the pores of the earth's skin.

at this time.

In the far south of Nanzhou, deep in a primeval jungle sparsely populated and rife with poisonous miasma, a cave hidden in a mountain valley appears exceptionally eerie and desolate.

At the entrance of the cave, some kind of eerie green vines were crawling all over it. They were not still; the tiny tendrils on the vines swayed slightly as if they were alive.

Behind these dense vines and leaves lurked large, brightly colored, highly venomous spiders, their compound eyes gleaming with a cold light.

These vines are the "killer vines" unique to the Southern Continent. They are extremely sensitive to the scent of living creatures. Once prey approaches, they will suddenly spring up like giant pythons, tightly wrapping around it and restricting its movement.

Meanwhile, the venomous spiders that form a strange symbiotic relationship with the Killer Vine will seize the opportunity to swarm and use their potent venom, enough to kill a fifth-rank martial artist within half a quarter of an hour, to put their prey to death.

After the prey dies, its flesh and blood become food for the spider, while the remains eventually become nutrients for the growth of the Killer Ivy.

These two ferocious creatures working together have turned the entrance to this cave into a death zone.

Logically speaking, with such a ferocious creature guarding it, there shouldn't be any living creatures inside the cave.

However, nothing in this world is absolute.

Deep within this cave, in a place where light cannot reach, there is a stone well that is clearly man-made!
The well was not deep, only about half a zhang deep, with a narrow opening, and was filled with a thick, scarlet liquid that emitted a strong fishy smell.

That was... blood!

What's even more chilling is that, in the bloody water at the wellhead, like mushrooms were being cultivated, and there were constantly pulsating, dark red, muscle-like tissues growing!

The ends of these bizarre muscles are connected to and protect one thing—a human head floating on the surface of blood!

The human head seemed to have been nourished by the blood in the well, with many areas of skin not yet fully formed, presenting a terrifying state of semi-transparency, revealing pink fleshy buds underneath.

The eyes on the human head are tightly closed, and the face is distorted, as if it is enduring great pain.

If Liang Jin were here, he would be greatly surprised, and might even feel a chill!
Because the human head floating on the blood, nourished by strange muscles, had facial features that looked exactly like the Wuxu Demon Lord, whose body he had personally blasted to pieces!
The human head, along with the muscles connecting it below, was slowly and stubbornly growing and pulsating in this blood well within the deathly silent cave, in a way that defied all logic, as if...

It is attempting to regenerate a complete skeleton, internal organs, and limbs, and ultimately give birth to a complete "human" again!

However, on this very day...

This cave, a forbidden zone of death, has been visited by an uninvited guest.

At the cave entrance, the ferocious killer vines and poisonous spiders seemed to sense some kind of aura that made their souls tremble. They retreated to both sides like a tide, making way for a passage, and did not even dare to have the slightest intention to attack.

The hidden insects that had been placed in the darkness inside the cave seemed to have encountered their natural enemy, trembling and cowering deep in the crevices of the rocks, afraid to move.

Even some ingenious and vicious traps were easily bypassed by the visitors, failing to serve any purpose.

A clear, melodious voice, yet carrying an icy chill, abruptly shattered the millennia-long, deathly silence deep within the cave:

"The great teacher has made a fatal mistake."

As the voices spoke, a petite figure shrouded in black feathers appeared silently beside the eerie blood well, like a weightless ghost.

The newcomer looked down at the head floating in the well, a head identical to that of the Demon Lord of Wuxu.

The human head in the well seemed to be startled by the sound and presence, and suddenly opened its eyes!
Those were double pupils, exactly the same as those of the Demon Lord Wuxu in his lifetime, only now they were filled with horror, resentment, and a trace of disbelief!
"Is...is it you?!"

The human head emitted a hoarse, distorted sound, which echoed in the sealed cave, making it particularly eerie.

The person who arrived was none other than the witch spirit, who should have already left!
She slowly crouched down beside the blood well. The eyes behind the mask, like the sharpest ice picks, were filled with a deep-seated hatred as she carefully examined, inch by inch, the strange human head that could speak and see, floating in the blood.

Beneath her mask, her red lips curved upwards in a cold, cruel arc. Her voice was soft, yet carried a chilling tone, as if delivering a death sentence.

"I came here today specifically..."

"Help him fix this mistake!"

(End of this chapter)