Wang Wei, as Su Zhiyuan’s trusted subordinate, personally accepted this order.
He was a second-stage Bone Coiling stage cultivator, and his spirit qi refinement of his muscles and bones had reached perfection. Within White Jade City, he was considered a top expert, so he naturally didn't think much of this assignment.
He selected more than a dozen elite guards from the City Lord's Manor, all at the first-stage Qi Induction stage. The group set off toward the Dead Man’s Forest with an intimidating aura.
As soon as they stepped into the territory of the Dead Man’s Forest, a sinister atmosphere—a mix of burning joss paper and damp, rotting wood—hit them full in the face.
As far as the eye could see, white cloth hung high on the branches like soul-summoning banners. Joss paper covered the ground, and mourning music played in unison. Faintly, the sounds of ghosts weeping and wolves howling echoed through the forest.
'Evil spirits! There must be a powerful evil spirit entrenched here!' Wang Wei's heart chilled. He instantly cast aside his contempt, his right hand already resting on the hilt of his sword.
Rumors of evil spirits in the Dead Man’s Forest had existed for a long time, but mortals had no idea how terrifying they truly were. Wang Wei simply assumed that evil spirits were the same as ordinary demons and monsters.
He led the team cautiously deeper into the forest. Bizarrely, many villagers were gathered together, eating and drinking freely, chatting and laughing in high spirits.
'As expected, they are puppets deluded by evil spirits who have lost their minds!' Wang Wei immediately made his judgment, a flicker of disgust and vigilance flashing in his eyes.
His sharp gaze caught the white-clad figure sitting in the corner, wearing a bamboo hat and holding a giant sword.
'It's Jian Huaishuang!'
Having found his target, Wang Wei felt slightly more at ease. He shot a glance at his subordinate, Tang Tao.
Tang Tao understood and strode up to Jian Huaishuang. His tone seemed respectful, but it carried an unconcealed mockery.
"Senior Brother Jian, the Immortal Celebration Day is approaching, and the sect’s affairs are busy. As the chief disciple, it is probably inappropriate for you to linger in such a filthy place for so long, isn't it? It would be best for you to return to White Jade City with us immediately."
Jian Huaishuang already felt he was imposing by staying there. Hearing this, he nodded silently, stood up while holding his sword, and prepared to leave.
"Wait!"
Widow Li, seeing the aggressive posture of these people and distressed that Jian Huaishuang’s injuries hadn't healed, couldn't help but step forward and pull on his sleeve.
"Young man! Your injuries aren't healed yet, and your face is still so pale. How can you leave just like this? Stay for two more days, and wait until your body has recovered!"
She turned to Tang Tao and the others, shouting fiercely, "Are you all blind? You want to take him away without even checking if his wounds have fully closed?"
"Talking about 'filthy places' every time you open your mouth—did you eat shit? Your breath stinks!"
"Presumptuous!"
Wang Wei barked, his voice like a clap of thunder that made everyone's ears ring! He took a step forward, his spirit qi erupting, forcing Widow Li to stumble backward.
"You ignorant commoners, your hearts deluded by evil spirits—how dare you obstruct an official? Kneel!"
Convinced that these villagers were already puppets of an evil spirit, a cold light flashed in his eyes. He pointed his fingers like a sword, and a condensed bolt of white sword qi shot through the air, swift as lightning, aiming directly at Widow Li’s knee.
If this hit, Widow Li's leg would surely be ruined!
"Watch out!"
Jian Huaishuang’s pupils constricted. Almost as an instinctive reaction, the giant sword—half as tall as he was—was thrust in front of Widow Li.
Clang—!
The sword qi slammed hard against the broad spine of the giant sword, sending sparks flying!
Jian Huaishuang trembled from the massive force. His already pale face lost all color, and a sweetness rose in his throat. He forced back the blood that surged up, but his arm holding the sword was shaking slightly.
"Jian Huaishuang, you're a mere cripple, yet you dare to strike an official?"
Wang Wei, seeing that he actually dared to interfere, laughed in fury.
"You truly are possessed. The White Jade Sword Sect was founded on the principle of slaying demons and defending the Dao. As the sect’s chief disciple, you do not hunt monsters, but instead protect these evil spirit puppets. You are a deviant! You are a disgrace to the sword sect!"
The more Wang Wei spoke, the angrier he became, his killing intent boiling over.
He knew well that Jian Huaishuang’s cultivation was lost. Why should a waste who had a title but no strength stand in his way?
Today, he would definitely kill these ignorant people who served the enemy.
Jian Huaishuang bit his tongue and frantically poured his remaining spirit qi into the giant sword. The blade emitted a faint glow as he held it horizontally, guarding Widow Li.
Boom!
Another loud bang echoed, and a wave of air surged!
The giant sword was violently knocked aside. The sharp sword qi, its momentum unspent, slammed directly into Jian Huaishuang’s chest!
Jian Huaishuang felt as if he had been hit by a sledgehammer. He spat out a jet of crimson blood, his body crashing heavily to the ground. He struggled for a few moments but found himself unable to rise.
Widow Li was also caught in the residual sword qi and sustained some injuries.
"I'll kill you bastards!"
The villagers' eyes instantly turned red!
Widow Li was hurt, and Jian Huaishuang, who was protecting them, had been beaten until he vomited blood. And these people were repeatedly insulting their god!
They roared, grabbing the hoes and axes at their sides, charging at Wang Wei and his men like enraged beasts!
"Ants trying to shake a tree—courting death!"
Ferocity flared on Wang Wei’s face. He felt not a shred of pity for these evil spirit puppets. He swung his longsword, weaving several sharp bolts of sword qi into a large net that descended upon the villagers leading the charge!
"Stop!"
Just at this critical moment, an angry shout rang out like a thunderclap.
A figure, moving faster than the eye could track, cut into the center of the battlefield with incredible speed.
Wang Wei didn't even see the newcomer's movements. He only felt an irresistible, tyrannical force slam into his chest.
His protective spirit qi shattered like paper, and his sternum let out a groan-inducing crack under the overwhelming pressure.
He was sent flying, coughing up blood, and only stopped after smashing through a tree the width of a bowl. He slumped on the ground, his eyes filled with extreme terror and disbelief!
Wang Wei struggled to lift his head, only to see a young man clad in bone-white armor, his face as cold as ice, slowly retracting his fist.
The spirit pressure emanating from the youth was like a physical mountain, weighing heavily on his heart.
Third-stage Inner Demon stage! This is definitely the third-stage Inner Demon stage! How could there be such a young third-stage expert in this den of evil spirits?!
Shitou’s face was as still as water. He had just finished testing his spirit root and taken the pills bestowed by the God when he was sent by the God to handle the troublemakers.
But he hadn't expected to see such a scene.
Especially when he saw the blood at his mother’s mouth and Jian Huaishuang collapsed on the ground vomiting blood, a cold light exploded in Shitou’s eyes, his killing intent becoming tangible!
Without a single word of nonsense, his body moved again, like a tiger pouncing into a flock of sheep.
The guards at the first-stage Qi Induction stage were like children before him.
Shitou didn't use a weapon; he used only his fists. Every strike was inevitably accompanied by the sound of breaking bones and agonized screams!
In a matter of breaths, the dozen or so elite guards were all on the ground wailing, having lost their ability to fight.
Like lifting a chick, Shitou picked up the heavily injured and limp Wang Wei and threw him together with the other guards whose limbs had been broken.
"Brother Shitou, what do we do... with these people?"
A middle-aged man holding a hoe asked, his anger still unappeased.
Shitou's gaze was cold as a blade. Just as he was about to speak, the majestic voice of the God rang directly in his mind.
'Wipe them out. Leave none alive.'
Chen Zhou did indeed lack a workforce, but he had no interest in fostering trouble by leaving unstable factors alive.
Shitou nodded slightly, signaling his understanding.
He drew the bone blade from his waist and stepped toward Wang Wei, who was slumped on the ground, unable to move.
"No... you can't kill me! I am from the White Jade City Lord's Manor..." Wang Wei sensed the palpable killing intent and screamed in terror, begging for mercy.
Before he could finish his sentence, his head rolled onto the ground.
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