High Martial Arts: Martial Soul Great Sage Equal to Heaven, crushing all races.

Just then, Xiao Po-xiao suddenly stepped down from the platform. Instead of blaming him, he burst into laughter, each step seemingly hitting the very heartbeats of everyone present.

"Hahaha! Well said! Absolutely right!"

He walked up to Feng Mo and patted Feng Mo's shoulder heavily with his large, fan-like hand, his eyes full of appreciation and approval.

"The sons of my Demon Slayer Division should possess this killing intent! This domineering spirit!"

This action and this attitude sent a chill down everyone's spine.

Xiao Po-xiao's strong support elevated Feng Mo's almost insane personal behavior to the level of the headquarters' top management's attitude!

This is no longer just Feng Mo's problem!

The Gu family's scheme has completely failed!

Xiao Po-xiao abruptly turned to the entire audience, his expression turning serious, his voice booming like a bell:

"The General Headquarters' Inspection Department has already made its final ruling on Gu Chongli's case: desertion in the face of battle, dereliction of duty, and harboring of traitors—the evidence is conclusive, and he deserves to die!"

"General Feng Mo's purge of his own ranks is a great achievement! Anyone with objections should submit a written appeal to the Ministry of Supervision after the meeting!"

His gaze was sharp as he swept his eyes around the room, and the representatives of those forces who had been eager to make a move all lowered their heads.

"Now!"

Xiao Po-xiao's voice rose another eight octaves, filled with unquestionable authority.

"Continue the investiture!"

"Feng Mo is hereby granted the title of Honorary Commander-in-Chief of the Demon Slayer Division of the Demon Capital!"

"And he was further granted the title of 'Chief Inspector'!"

"Reward: A Demon-Slaying Golden Token!"

He paused, and each word he uttered exploded like thunder.

"Whoever carries this order may, throughout the entire territory of Great Xia, execute rebels or investigate demonic disturbances without prior notification!"

Execute first, then report later!

These four words, like a thunderclap, resounded loudly in the magnificent hall!

Everyone present was completely stunned.

If the previous titles of "General" and "Inspector" were merely positions and titles...

So, "acting first and reporting later" is a Damocles' sword hanging over everyone's head!

This means that Feng Mo has gained power that transcends ordinary laws!

Especially at this critical juncture, after Feng Mo had just trampled the "rules" of the capital in the most violent way, the bombshell dropped by Xiao Po Xiao has a significance that is enough to make any intelligent person shudder.

On the ground, Gu Chongyi, who had just been helped up by his clansmen, lost all color in his face upon hearing these four words. He was struck dumb and collapsed completely.

It’s over.

It's all over.

This time, the Gu family is likely to suffer a crushing defeat.

The investiture ceremony was completed in an extremely eerie silence.

A waiter, carrying a tray covered with bright yellow silk, walked timidly to Feng Mo.

On the tray, a token made entirely of an unknown type of red gold, with a dragon and phoenix engraved on the front and a totem of mountains, rivers, sun and moon on the back, lay there quietly.

Feng Mo reached out and picked up the Demon-Slaying Golden Token, which felt slightly heavy and still warm to the touch.

His expression was calm, neither sad nor happy.

It was as if what he had obtained was not supreme power that could shake the entire Great Xia Dynasty, but merely an ordinary piece of iron.

The banquet continued.

But the atmosphere had completely changed.

No one dared to talk or laugh loudly anymore, and even the sounds of clinking glasses became cautious.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily drifted again and again to the boy who was still sitting in the corner.

This time, however, there was no longer any contempt in his eyes, only deep awe and fear.

That place is no longer a forgotten corner.

That place is the center of the entire hall.

Fifteen minutes later.

The eerie immobilization effect slowly faded.

The seven or eight elders, now free, were panting heavily, their bodies drenched in cold sweat.

They got up from the ground, their faces ashen.

Under the deathly silence of the entire audience, they didn't even dare to utter a harsh word. Supporting each other, heads bowed, they hurriedly left their seats, looking dejected and disheveled.

As he was leaving, the Wang family elder who had been the first to be sent flying turned around and stared at Feng Mo with an extremely venomous look.

Feng Mo noticed his gaze, but didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.

He simply picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

He's just a clown jumping around.

……

After the banquet, the guests hurriedly dispersed, each eager to relay the earth-shattering news from the main hall back to their respective families and sects.

The sky over the capital is about to change.

Xiao Po-xiao didn't let Feng Mo go through the main gate. Instead, he led him through a heavily guarded secret passage to the deepest part of the Demon Slayer Headquarters, a quiet courtyard shrouded in rich spiritual energy.

"Qingzhuyuan".

Inside the courtyard, there were only a few simple bamboo houses and a figure pruning potted plants.

He was an old man dressed in a simple blue cloth robe, with his white hair neatly combed.

He exuded no aura whatsoever, just like an old man next door.

But Feng Mo's discerning eyes saw it clearly.

Within this old man's body lies a vast, star-like energy that has completely merged with his flesh, bones, and soul, returning him to his original, pure state.

Xiao Zhen, an eighth-tier expert.

Deputy Chief of the Demon Slayer General Headquarters, one of the pillars stabilizing the Great Xia Dynasty.

"They're here."

Xiao Zhen put down the small scissors and turned around.

His face was thin and his eyes were gentle, with a hint of a smile.

"sit."

He pointed to the stone bench opposite him.

Xiao Po-xiao respectfully bowed to the old man, then quietly withdrew from the courtyard and stood guard outside the door.

Feng Mo sat down as instructed.

Xiao Zhen didn't ask about what happened at the banquet. Instead, he first inquired about Feng Qingyang's injuries and then about Li Changqing's recent situation.

When he heard that Li Changqing's martial spirit damage was not irreversible and that his cultivation level could even improve, a hint of relief flashed in his usually calm eyes.

"That kid, he didn't disappoint me at all," he murmured with a sigh.

Then, he changed the subject, his gentle gaze turning sharp, as if he could see right through people's hearts.

"Feng Mo, do you know that the Great Xia Dynasty today is a leaky ship riddled with holes?"

Without waiting for Feng Mo's reply, he continued talking to himself.

The voice was not loud, but every word was piercing.

"The Venerable One has been in seclusion for nearly a century, and his fate is unknown. The infiltration of the Demon Worship Cult is far more serious than you imagine."

"In the thirty-six base cities of the Great Xia Dynasty, more than half of the high-ranking members of the prominent families have either been completely corrupted or have simply been replaced by evil spirits."

"They even have spies planted among the four holy lands."

"Once the General Headquarters' orders leave the capital, they are hampered at every level. Military orders from the Ministry of War are also delayed and misinterpreted for various reasons when they reach the local war zones."

"If it weren't for a few old guys like us keeping things in check, this big ship would have sunk long ago."

Every word Xiao Zhen uttered revealed a bloody truth, an internal crisis far more terrifying than the East Sea Demon Catastrophe.

Many of the so-called "Eighteen Noble Families" have long since become parasites clinging to the ship of Great Xia, frantically sucking its blood!

He stared at Feng Mo, his eyes more serious than ever before.

"So, I need a knife."

"A knife that is sharp enough, hard enough, and fearless enough!"

"Go and rip out these deep-seated carbuncles, these rotten parts of flesh, piece by piece!"

"I'm giving you the power to 'act first and report later,' not so you can seek revenge, but so you can become the knife!"

"This is a nationwide 'Great Purge,' and also a high-stakes gamble. If we win, the Great Xia Dynasty will have another century of national fortune; if we lose, we will all become sinners in history."