So it turns out I'm the demon!

Why did the Demon Slayers suddenly surround this place?

Who gave the order?

Jiang Mu was puzzled, but her face remained expressionless.

Fang Yuanhao immediately looked at Wen Li, his gaze as cold as a knife, and said coldly, "So, that Lord Jiang really came to save you?" Wen Li and Duan Shuang'er were also completely confused.

They assumed that Lord Jiang had found Yuan Xiaoshun and that's why he sent people to demand his return.

Seeing the situation suddenly change, Duan Shuang'er's previously pale face regained some color, and she immediately straightened her chest and scolded:

"Release us now! Lord Jiang has come to rescue us personally. You'll be sorry!"

Fang Yuanhao's expression shifted between light and dark.

If they were outside the city, he wouldn't need to worry too much about the Demon Slayer Division.

But now he's trapped inside the city, on the other side's territory. If things really escalate, it might be difficult to handle.

Just then, a series of footsteps approached.

Soon, a familiar figure appeared before everyone.

Meng Zhen!

Jiang Mu narrowed his eyes slightly.

He then looked at Wen Li, a guess forming in his mind: "So, this guy really is the Yuan Xiaoshun that Wen Li is looking for?" Meng Zhen stepped into the house, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room. It paused for a moment when it landed on the gray-robed elder, Hai Lao, before he looked at Fang Yuanhao sitting in the chair and said calmly:

"I am Meng Zhen, the Second Hall Master of the Demon Slayer Division of Fazhou City, and I have come here today to handle a case."

Fang Yuanhao gave a forced smile:

"So it's Master Meng. What case are you handling?"

Meng Zhen raised his hand and pointed at Wen Li, saying calmly:

"A case involving a demon has occurred in the city. Our investigation reveals a connection to these two women. Lord Jiang has ordered me to bring them back for questioning," Fang Yuanhao said calmly, tapping his fingers on the armrest.

"What if I don't let you take them?"

"Openly obstructing the court's handling of cases is tantamount to treason according to the criminal law of Daqing."

Meng Zhen placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, his tone cold: "If you don't want to go to jail, then cooperate obediently. This is Yunzhou City; don't even think about escaping the Demon Slayer Division's pursuit."

Fang Yuanhao's face revealed a hint of contempt and sarcasm:

"I've always heard people say that once you put on the dog skin bestowed by the imperial court, you can bark more majestically than the gods and Buddhas in heaven. Seeing it today, I can see that it's truly well-deserved."

He turned to look at Elder Hai, who had been resting with his eyes closed:

"Mr. Hai, what do you think?"

Old Hai slowly opened his eyes, looked at Meng Zhen, and asked, "Is Lord Jiang here too?"

"At the Demon Slayer Division," Meng Zhen said.

Old Hai then asked, "Then why didn't he come in person to demand the person back?"

Meng Zhen said, "It's just investigating a case and bringing people in; it's such a trivial matter. Why trouble Lord Jiang to make the trip personally?"

"In that case..."

Old Hai stared at him and said slowly, "Then please go back. Let Lord Jiang come in person. Once he arrives, we will release him."

Meng Zhen frowned and said coldly:

"I said, as long as it's about investigating a case and arresting someone, there's no need for you, sir, to come in person for such a small matter. If you insist on obstructing me, then I can only handle this officially." Elder Hai stopped speaking and just stared at the other party quietly, a purple light flashing deep in his pupils.

After a long pause, the old man suddenly chuckled and said quietly, "Young man, you're lying."

Meng Zhen's noodles twitched slightly.

Hai Laohan said:

"Either Lord Jiang is not in the city right now, or you came to arrest him without informing him at all."

If it's the latter, then it means you don't want him to know.

"Master Meng, could you be Wen Li's husband's younger brother? You came to rescue her without your superior's knowledge; is there some secret you're hiding?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Li and Duan Shuang'er were both taken aback and looked at Meng Zhen in unison.

The two women had met this man twice before when they went to the Demon Slayer Division to search for someone. Moreover, he was later personally dispatched by Lord Jiang to investigate Yuan Xiaoshun's whereabouts.

But if he really is Yuan Xiaoshun, why did he refuse to acknowledge him before?

Jiang Mu also looked at his subordinate with great interest, wanting to see what secrets the other party was hiding.

Meng Zhen stared at Fang Yuanhao expressionlessly and said coldly:

"I'm taking this person with me today. You're welcome to try and stop me. If you really have the ability, then kill me."

After saying that, he swayed and grabbed Wen Li's wrist, then headed for the door.

Swish!

A sword shadow flashed across the sky, blocking the doorway.

It was that masked woman in black standing there, sword in hand, exuding a chilling aura of killing intent.

At this moment, Fang Yuanhao had no scruples whatsoever. He stood up from his chair and glared at Meng Zhen:

"Master Meng, I'll give you one chance. Considering you're an official of the imperial court, I'll let you get lost, but this bitch must stay. If you insist on taking her away by force, then I can only apologize."

And to put it bluntly, let alone the fact that your Lord Jiang is unaware of this right now, even if he were actually standing here today, he might not be able to stop the person my Phoenix Feather Sect wants to take away.”

After confirming that Lord Jiang was not involved in the matter, Fang Yuanhao finally put aside his last bit of hesitation.

His confidence surged, and he spoke with much more conviction.

Wen Li and Duan Shuang'er were plunged into despair once again.

Jiang Mu saw that Meng Zhen had already gripped the hilt of the knife tightly, and the veins on his forehead were bulging, so she knew it was time for her to make her appearance.

Although this trip failed to uncover Beitang Batian, it unexpectedly yielded clues about Ding Tieshui and confirmed that Meng Zhen was indeed Yuan Xiaoshun, making it quite fruitful. He coughed lightly and stepped forward, smiling at Fang Yuanhao:

"Fellow Daoist Fang, we are all respectable people trying to make a living in the martial world. Why don't you let these two young ladies go for my sake? Otherwise, I will really have to report this to the authorities."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room gave him strange looks, staring at him as if he were an idiot.

Report to the authorities?

Fang Yuan laughed arrogantly, too lazy to pay attention to this clown, and waved his hand at the masked woman in black, saying:

"Please escort Master Meng out of here, don't hurt him."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Elder Hai, who had been sitting upright, suddenly changed his expression drastically and roared:

"Young Master, be careful!"

As he spoke, he suddenly lifted off the ground and lunged towards Fang Yuanhao.

But in the end, it was too late.

When everyone came to their senses, they found that Jiang Mu had already appeared behind Fang Yuanhao, with one hand gripping the latter's throat.

The strong wind suddenly stopped.

Hai Lao, who was halfway through his charge, quickly stopped, staring intently at Jiang Mu, and asked in a deep voice, "Who exactly are you?"

The others also looked incredulous.

No one expected that Chu Jiang, who had always been treated as a passerby, would suddenly become the protagonist of this room in the blink of an eye. Fang Yuanhao was stiff all over, and cold sweat rolled down his forehead.

Sensing the chilling killing intent emanating from Jiang Mu, he forced himself to remain calm and said:

"It seems I misjudged you. Your ability to conceal your cultivation and lie in wait here is truly admirable."

If you have truly come to find the woman in your painting, and not to stand up for my two junior sisters, then we will naturally not make things difficult for you. You are free to leave; we will not stop you.

"Why do you believe me now?"

Jiang Mu grinned, then grabbed Fang Yuanhao's hair and tugged at it back and forth: "I gave you a chance just now, but you were useless! I gave you a chance, but you were useless!"

What a shame!

As the young master of a prestigious family, Fang Yuanhao had never suffered such humiliation at the hands of street thugs. He felt as if his scalp was being ripped off, and a wave of humiliation surged to the top of his head. Just as his blood was boiling, he caught a glimpse of Elder Hai giving him a look out of the corner of his eye.

Fang Yuanhao was taken aback, but then he understood.

The next moment, a triangular symbol suddenly lit up between his eyebrows, and he uttered a low growl:

"Time changes and stars shift."

hum!

A dazzling golden light emanated from the triangular pattern between the eyebrows.

The laws of space were violently distorted.

When Jiang Mu realized something was wrong, she was shocked to find that the person she was holding in her hand had turned into a black-clad guard.

Fang Yuanhao himself appeared where the guard had been standing.

After escaping, Fang Yuanhao immediately flashed behind Elder Hai, coldly staring at Jiang Mu: "Boy, do you think you can handle me with your meager skills? Elder Hai, skin him alive!"

"That's impressive."

Jiang Mu tightened her grip and crushed the black-clad guard's throat.

He clapped his hands, looked at Elder Hai, whose breathing was heavy, and said calmly:

"Among all the people in this house, you're the only one with a slight chance of escape. Of course, that's assuming you have a magic weapon to save your life; otherwise, if your Phoenix Feather Sect were to assassinate an official of the imperial court, you'd all be stuck here."

"Young man, you have quite the big mouth."

Hai Lao snorted coldly and stomped his right foot hard.

In an instant, a dozen or so ghostly claws formed from black mist suddenly appeared out of thin air and pounced towards Jiang Mu.

These ghostly claws were accompanied by faint howls, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Jiang Mu no longer suppressed his cultivation. He reversed his star position, and with a tremor, a blood-red blade aura, like a raging sea, burst forth, completely annihilating and disintegrating the menacing ghost claws that lunged at him.

"This is·……"

Sensing the sudden burst of pressure emanating from Jiang Mu, Elder Hai was utterly astonished and exclaimed in disbelief.

"Eighth Realm cultivation?! How is that possible?"

Eight Realms?

Everyone else was stunned when they heard what Elder Hai said.

Wen Li and Duan Shuang'er, in particular, were completely blank-minded, feeling like they were dreaming.

It's worth noting that while Chu Jiang displayed terrifying strength during the monster attack at Mingyun Inn a few days ago, after reflection, they concluded he was at most at the fifth realm.

The reason they were able to kill that wood demon was because they possessed some kind of magical artifact.

It turned out the other party was actually a cultivator at the eighth level?

Duan Shuang'er's eyes were filled with complex emotions, her heart churning with mixed feelings.

Meng Zhen stared intently at Jiang Mu, seemingly understanding something, and his face gradually paled.

He gritted his teeth, grabbed Wen Li's arm, and hissed:

"Hurry up!"

Wen Li snapped out of her daze, grabbed Duan Shuang'er who was still standing there, and stumbled towards the door.

At this moment, the Phoenix Feather Sect members had no time to stop them.

Jiang Mu ignored it.

After all, once a fight breaks out, the blade's energy has no eyes, and if they stay here, they are more likely to suffer collateral damage.

"Quickly, take the young master and leave first!"

Hai Lao roared at the masked woman in black, while his hands flew across his chest, forming hand seals.

He swiftly moved his fingers and then pulled to both sides.

A pale gold handkerchief appeared out of thin air in the palm of his hand, spinning continuously.

The next moment, it turned into a thick wall blocking Jiang Mu's way, as if it were half a house that had been built, trapping him inside.

Without hesitation, the woman in black, masked and clad, grabbed the distraught Fang Yuanhao by the shoulder and darted towards the door.

But just as the two rushed out the door, a dark shadow appeared silently in front of them.

It's a shadow demon.

The demonic figure wielded a shadow blade, its sharp edge gleaming as it slashed wildly down at its opponent!

Damn it!

The woman in black's pupils contracted, and she quickly swung her sword to block.

On Jiang Mu's side, facing the wall that trapped him, he casually made a light, knife-like slash with his right index finger.

A crescent-shaped red blade of light flashed across the sky, cleaving the thick wall in two as easily as paper. Then the other three sides exploded into golden fragments.

Amidst the swirling golden fragments, Jiang Mu strolled leisurely toward Elder Hai, his tone indifferent:

"I kindly reminded you earlier that you should be the one running, not them. After all... the dead don't need to think about running away."

Hai Lao's chest heaved as he clasped his hands in a deep voice and said:

"I was unaware that you possessed such cultivation. I have offended you greatly in the past. On behalf of the Phoenix Feather Sect, I apologize to you."

Since you have chosen to live in seclusion here, why have you made an enemy of my sect? I will certainly send you apologies and resources upon my return.

"But if you insist on a life-or-death struggle with my Phoenix Feather Sect, I will risk my old life to make you pay the price." "You dare threaten me on my territory?"

Jiang Mu sneered and directly released his Dharma form.

The majestic image of the Fire God, carrying an unparalleled divine might like a mountain being burned, rose from behind Jiang Mu. The raging flames distorted the surrounding air, as if a scorching sun had descended.

The Dharma Image!!

When Hai Lao saw Jiang Mu actually summon his Dharma form, his face turned ashen.

After all, this is a technique that only a tenth-level expert possesses.

But then he realized something was wrong.

Because Jiang Mu's aura was still at the eighth level.

Suddenly he understood something and exclaimed:

"I remember now. I heard that Lord Jiang of the Demon Slayer Division could forcibly summon a Dharma body with his cultivation at the seventh or eighth level. So, you are Jiang Mu!"

No wonder, I should have thought of that sooner.

Those two maids weren't lying after all; Lord Jiang was actually protecting them.

Fang Yuanhao, who was being driven to a sorry state by the demonic shadow not far away, was so frightened by what he heard that he almost collapsed to the ground. He looked at Jiang Mu in disbelief. This guy was actually Jiang Mu.

Brother, are you kidding us?

You're actually Jiang Mu? You should have said so earlier, maybe I would have given you face and released him.

"You're overthinking it. I just happened to be looking for someone."

Against the backdrop of the raging flames surrounding his Dharma Image, Jiang Mu appeared handsome and imposing, his eyes chilling as he spoke:

"It's just that your young master is out of his mind, insisting on provoking me. Since he claims that even if I, Jiang Mu, were here, I couldn't stop your Phoenix Feather Sect from taking the person they want, then I'd like to see if you really have that ability."

As he spoke, he threw a punch.

The Vulcan image behind him moved in unison with him, also throwing a punch.

The enormous fiery fist, carrying immense divine power, crashed down towards Elder Hai.

"Time flies!"

Hai Lao let out a low shout, and a triangular starlight appeared between his eyebrows, even more dazzling than Fang Yuanhao's earlier.

In an instant, the laws of space forcibly intersected.

A huge rune appeared on the ground beneath their feet, and then the two vanished into thin air, teleporting to an open area outside the inn. Jiang Mu was stunned, his gaze fixed intently on Elder Hai:

"This supernatural power is quite impressive. Why don't you teach me? If you do, I'll let you go."

Hai Lao didn't believe Jiang Mu's nonsense.

After unleashing his supernatural power, his face became even paler, his aura weakened, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood.

He did this to give Fang Yuanhao and his group more time to escape.

"die!"

Hai Lao pressed his palms down on the ground.

The ground collapsed inch by inch, spewing out countless serpentine wisps of mist. Within each wisp of mist condensed a hideous, wailing demonic face, its countless ghostly claws howling as they lunged at Jiang Mu.

Jiang Mu clasped his hands together in front of his chest.

The air currents within a radius of several miles were instantly forcibly sucked away, turning into a violent vortex of energy.

At the same time, the demonic energy and Blood River True Knowledge within his body poured into his palms, condensing into a terrifyingly sharp edge.

"cut!"

Jiang Mu rubbed her hands together vigorously.

A dazzling, sun-like blade of energy suddenly burst forth from his palm, its momentum overwhelming.

At the same time, the Dharma image behind him also rubbed his hands together!

A massive, fiery blade, stretching for hundreds of feet, crashed down from the heavens, as if divine punishment had descended upon the world.

"Below the eighth realm, I am invincible."

boom!

The thousands of dark, ghostly claws vanished into nothingness in an instant under the overwhelming divine power.

Then the enormous blade of light landed on Elder Hai's head, pressing down layer by layer, shattering his protective aura inch by inch.

"ah!!"

Finally, with a piercing scream, the ground where Hai Lao stood collapsed, creating a huge crater. He himself was covered in blood, lying motionless in the pit.

Jiang Mu retracted his Dharma form, leaped into the deep pit, and gazed at the barely breathing Elder Hai:

"Let me see what star level you are."

He reached into the other man's abdomen and pulled out a bloody star pill.

The dead Hai Lao still stared with wide eyes, filled with resentment.

[Tail Fire Tiger], [Heavenly River Star Pill]

"good."

Jiang Mu put away the Star Pill and also took out the other party's heart, preparing to give it to Ji Hongyuan.

Just as he was about to kill Fang Yuanhao, the air suddenly rippled.

Jiang Mu turned around and saw a short, thin old man in black standing in front of him, smiling at him.

"Is it you?"

Jiang Mu was somewhat surprised.

This old man was the same one who had possessed their group at the Mingyun Inn, attempting to steal their treasure. Jiang Mu had taken it first, leaving the old man with no choice but to leave.

"So it was Lord Jiang at the inn back then, no wonder he was so powerful."

The old man in black chuckled.

"Don't tell me you're also from the Phoenix Feather Sect," Jiang Mu said coldly.

"No, that's not it."

The old man in black said, "Lord Jiang, rest assured, as I said before, I don't want to be your enemy, I just want to make friends."

"So now you are...?"

"Star Pill".

The old man in black didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

"Old man, I want that Star Pill in Lord Jiang's possession. I wonder what price Lord Jiang is willing to offer in exchange?"

Jiang Mu suddenly realized, and said with a half-smile:

"So it seems that your star position is also one of the star positions under the [Tail Fire Tiger] system."

The old man in black did not deny it, and said:

"Given Lord Jiang's cultivation level, there are some things I don't need to explain further. You must know that you and this guy from the Phoenix Feather Sect are not in the same star system, so even if you take his star core, it will be of no use and can only be used to trade with others."

And you also understand that because of the difference in star positions, even if you kill him and seize his star position and star core, you can only keep it in your hands for a maximum of seven days.

"After seven days, this star pill will disappear."

disappear?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mu's expression turned strange.

Because in addition to Kang Jinlong's Star Core, he also possessed two Star Cores of the [Ji Shui Leopard].

These two have always existed and have never disappeared.

Of course, since he already possessed the [Pepper] star position within the Ji Shui Bao system, which Yang Feifei had given him, it's not surprising that the star core within this system has always existed.

But the problem is,

He now has another star core in another star position.

That is the star elixir of the Five Chariots in the Bi Yue Wu.

This Star Core was obtained by him after killing Xuanzong Guo Zhiyao. Many days have passed, and the Star Core remains intact. Jiang Mu thought to himself:

"In that case, I am indeed different from others. Others can only hold onto Star Pills of different star ranks for seven days, but I can hold onto them indefinitely."

Jiang Mu remained expressionless and asked with a smile:

"A trade is possible, but what are your terms?"

"I know who holds the Right Sheti star position under the Kang Jinlong system. I wonder if Lord Jiang is satisfied with this clue?" Hearing this, Jiang Mu was speechless.

Damn it, everyone says that the star positions of the seventh and eighth realms cannot be known to others.

But it seems that everyone in the world already knows Lao Tzu's star position. Sure enough, the imperial court, that beast, can't keep secrets.

However, the bargaining chip proposed by the other party...

Jiang Mu grinned.

Finally, I'm about to complete my collection of [Kang Jinlong].