The sudden appearance of the plain old farmer and the young man and woman playing the zither and xiao flute beneath the floating giant sword exuded an undeniable aura of strangeness.
In particular, the pair of young cultivators focused entirely on playing their instruments, not sparing so much as a single glance toward the crowd.
Zheng—zheng—zheng—
The notes of the guqin flowed smoothly, while the melody of the xiao rang out crisp and clear.
Even someone with no ear for music could tell that this composition was extraordinary.
At times, it was vast and majestic, like the bright moon rising over the sea; at other moments, it turned gentle and soft, like a clear spring trickling through mountain groves.
All at once, visions of a rising full moon, wind sweeping through the woods, and picturesque vistas bloomed, intoxicating enough to make one wish to drown endlessly in such beauty.
But in the next second, their senses snapped back, reminding them that they were still trapped inside the secret realm—having narrowly escaped deadly peril, with a floating giant sword towering above them.
Most of the Russian soldiers who had accompanied them had already perished on the chessboard.
One minute ago, they had still been breathing.
The next, they had turned into rigid stone statues.
As the song came to an end, everyone pulled away from the illusion. The stark contrast between the idyllic scenery and the gory reality sent a chill deep into their bones.
“Hehehe.”
The old farmer suddenly beckoned with his hand. A jade tablet flew out from the pile of blood and gore, landing pristine and spotless right in his palm.
Everyone exchanged bewildered glances.
Qin Yue glanced at Yu Lan, the two exchanging a tacit look without rashly speaking up.
“So it’s an Entry Token from the Demon Suppression Division. Ah, yes. With the Demon Suppression Division declining these days, I did hear that True Immortal Mu intended to open the gates wide and recruit talents from across the realm.”
Squinting as he inspected it for a moment, the old farmer muttered to himself:
“It is not yet time for the trial. It seems that while we have been waiting around for the Splendid Platform these past few days, the mountain-guarding formation was kept running, allowing you to stumble in by sheer coincidence.”
He appeared to have a mild temperament, smiling as he added:
“This formation is meant to defend against Sky Demon incursions. Little did I expect you would mistake it for some secret realm. Since it was all a misunderstanding, you may take your lea—”
Before his sentence finished, he waved his hand, preparing to send everyone out of the secret realm. But the flute music abruptly halted.
“Junior Brother Fu, your softhearted foolishness is acting up again.”
The stunning male cultivator holding the flute gave a dazzling smile. His radiant, breathtaking allure was so striking that one could hardly look directly at him:
“If we let these mortals return, who knows what endless troubles might come knocking at our door later? In my opinion, since they showed no regard for their own lives and chose to force their way into the formation, why should you and I interfere? They are merely some petty demons who haven't even solidified their demon cores. Not only have they stirred up mischief time and again, but they even defiled this formation with filthy fluid. If they die, then good riddance.”
With that, the male cultivator raised an eyebrow. Emerald bamboo leaves materialized from his bamboo flute, surging straight toward the crowd enveloped in boundless killing intent!
Yet those bamboo leaves were not meant to kill them, but rather to force them onto the chessboard!
Several people attempted to flee, but with only a smiling glance from the male cultivator, a crushing weight of tens of thousands of jin pressed down upon everyone present, slamming them straight into the ground without the power to move so much as a single finger!
What is this?!
What is this?!
A single thought surged through everyone's mind.
Crack, crack, crack...
Qin Yue was crushed nearly flush into the chessboard, carving out a human silhouette. Gritting her teeth and trembling violently, soaked in sweat, she slowly forced her head up.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths.
Unlike the others, she was not entirely defenseless. Even as her flesh, bones, and blood screamed in agony, she refused to collapse.
Creeeeak...
She heard the bones inside her body groaning under the strain.
She heard the popping sounds of her flesh splitting apart inch by inch.
Yet Qin Yue did not fall; instead, she struggled to stand.
Beside her, Zhang Daowei, Lyu Dongfang, Yu Lan, and Hu Manni were also gritting their teeth. Plump beads of crimson blood dripped from their facial orifices, yet none begged for mercy.
—As for the rest of the demons, large and small, they all lay completely flattened against the ground to disperse the crushing pressure across their bodies, looking at first glance like living animal pelt rugs.
“Oh?”
The dissolute male cultivator holding the bamboo flute straightened up involuntarily, exclaiming in wonder as though looking at a rare spectacle:
“These few possess a bit more backbone than the rest.”
With that, he extended a finger, intending to increase the pressure further. Beside him, the female cultivator who had remained silent for so long allowed her zither music to slowly fade:
“Junior Brother Guiyuan, do not be overly playful. From what I see, that female cultivator cultivates the orthodox secret techniques of the Demon Suppression Division. Just recently, the Demon Suppression Division returned to the sect. If an unpleasant incident were to arise now, wouldn't it leave everyone in an awkward spot?”
“Secret techniques of the Demon Suppression Division?”
The male cultivator paused. With a gentle flick of his finger, he lifted Qin Yue into the air and brought her before him, inspecting her closely. After a long moment, as if suddenly remembering something, his expression shifted drastically:
“I did hear that True Immortal Mu took a very young mortal disciple as a direct disciple. It couldn't be—”
“Senior! Cough, cough, cough!”
Finally finding an opening, Qin Yue coughed up the stagnant blood in her chest and hastily explained:
“Though I cannot be considered a formal member of the Demon Suppression Division, Ma Guniang of the Demon Suppression Division has treated me as a half-disciple. My dearest friend, Nan Zhi, is the disciple of Lord Mu Changsheng of the Demon Suppression Division—though I do not know if he is the person Senior mentioned. This junior was merely representing the mortal authorities to explore this secret realm. We never expected to stumble into your noble sanctuary by mistake. We truly meant no offense, and I earnestly beg for your forbearance, cough, cough, cough.”
—After finishing these words, Qin Yue gasped heavily for breath, feeling a searing heat in her chest and lungs as if they were on the verge of bursting.
She was gambling.
Since the old farmer had mentioned the Demon Suppression Division earlier and spoke with deference regarding Commissioner Mu Changsheng...
...she bet everything on the chance that these people knew Ma Jiu and Mu Changsheng.
Sure enough, the moment those names left her lips, the expressions of all three shifted awkwardly. The flute-playing male cultivator in particular looked rather chagrined:
“Ma Guniang... You're the disciple of that maniac, Ma Jiu? Damn it, who doesn't know that lunatic protects her people more fiercely than anyone... And how did that direct disciple get dragged into this?”
He hurriedly reined in his aura. The crushing pressure lifting from their bodies, everyone collapsed completely to the ground, panting desperately for air.
The male cultivator stood up, looking somewhat anxious:
“Oh no, oh no... Senior Sister Qiu, you have to help me. That old ghost has lived for so many years; she wouldn't teach the Demon Suppression Division's secret techniques to just anyone for no reason. In all likelihood, she wants to accept this girl as—never mind, never mind. Get up, quickly.”
He completely put on a different face, sporting a cloyingly sweet, fake smile. Clear water trickled from his fingertips, raining down jade-green spiritual spring water to wash and soothe Qin Yue's wounds:
“This seat is Feng Guiyuan of the Hehuan lineage. This is Senior Sister Qiu Jiusi of the Wuwei Sect, and this is Junior Brother Fu Laogou of the Qingjing Sect. Just now, I was merely impressed by your talent and decided to test you a little. Please, do not take it to heart. At present, the Demon Suppression Division's return to the sect is an occasion of supreme joy. A trivial matter like this shouldn't be brought to the attention of Ma... Ma Guniang, lest it troubles her mind.”
“Thank you for your care, Senior.”
Seeing the sudden 180-degree turn in their attitudes, Qin Yue grew even more cautious, terrified of being silenced to tie up loose ends.
She distributed the wound medicine refined by Nan Zhi to her companions, paused to weigh her words, and asked cautiously:
“Might I ask what Senior meant by the Demon Suppression Division's ‘return to the sect’?”
“You don't know?”
Fu Laogou chuckled heartily:
“It is only natural that you are unaware. The Miaoling Secret Realm of the Ten Directions Mountains had been sealed for a thousand years, reopening only recently... True Immortal Mu of the Demon Suppression Division originally hailed from the Three Sects. Alas, during the great calamity at the end of the Song dynasty, the Three Sects went into seclusion, leaving the Demon Suppression Division unable to return. Only now have they been fortunate enough to return to the sect, as the Demon Suppression lineage under the Three Sects. The three of us were ordered by the Sect Master to wait here for the people of the Demon Suppression Division to return, and the Return to the Sect Ceremony will be held before long—what a coincidence, aren't they arriving right now? Hehe.”
Everyone instinctively looked up. Through the swirling clouds and mist, a splendid tower ship sailed forward, breaking through the fog. It was inlaid with gold and silver and tiled in precious jade, featuring pine-shaded terraces, miniature rockeries, and flowing streams—resembling a colossal, moving pavilion in the sky.
Enshrouded in mist, the ship’s full form remained faint and elusive to the eye.
Yet the air resounded with the melodies of stringed and woodwind instruments. Heavenly maidens soared, auspicious beasts and rare birds frolicked, and immortal cranes rode the wind. Every detail was exquisite, nothing short of supreme luxury.
And at the very forefront of the prow flew two massive banners.
One bore the characters “Demon Suppression,” while the other was emblazoned with a prominent “Mu.”
This ship... belonged to the Demon Suppression Division!
Astounded, the crowd stood in utter shock.
Rate on N.U.
