Attaining Immortality, Starting From Slaying Demons

The desolate city interior was pervaded by an eerie muddiness on the streets.

Crushed rotten flesh and entrails were visible everywhere, spreading an odor that induced nausea.

The sparse pedestrians seemed unaware and impervious as they numbly trudged through the mire, making squelching noises with each step.

They were the forsaken.

As the main city of a province, Nanyue City no longer belonged to the Great Qian Dynasty, nor was it under the protection of the Demon-Suppression Bureau anymore.

Lord Crimson's general, the Leopard Commander, shattered the placard of the Demon Suppressing General's Mansion and decapitated the old man in the tattered profound armor, hanging his fiercely glaring severed head on a pole at the main gate.

Since then, Nanyue City had gained a demon lord.

Chanting the reverent name of Lord Crimson day and night, and worshiping the god at the temple every three days was the only way to preserve one's life—of course, between recitations, one also prayed not to be selected for the banquet.

The demon lord had a habit of holding lavish feasts.

Those invited to the banquet transformed from the exalted experts of noble families and sects to these ordinary people.

Protect a region's populace and indulge in all the desires of the mouth and stomach.

This was Lord Crimson's reward for the demon lord's diligence; being selected for the banquet, to become a dish on the plate, was an honor for those sheltered by him.

"..."

A frail man in patched hemp clothes walked head down through the streets, suddenly two men stopped him.

He looked up and the two men nodded at him.

The man's hands slowly released, the incense candles he clutched scattered all over the ground. Without struggling or pleading, his knees buckled and the two men steadied him.

Being chosen by the draw was a matter of misfortune, or perhaps it was because one was not sincere enough when worshiping the god.

He was half-dragged towards the most conspicuous compound in the city.

The Demon Suppressing General's Mansion.

The man fell to his knees on the ground and looked at the shriveled head that now only had a layer of dried skin wrapped around it on the spear, and at the others also drawn for the feast beside him, right up until he was sent into the kitchen. He couldn't help but glance up at the sky.

"The god is a demon."

If there truly were divine immortals, why wouldn't they send down punishment?

The sky was crystal clear, but empty.

The mansion's roof had been rudely stripped away, and the council hall repurposed as a dining room.

An eight-foot-tall figure sat at the head of the table, back arching high, wearing soft, smooth silk clothes. Even the specially tailored large robes were bulging with its muscular frame, as if about to burst at the seams.

The Leopard held its palms on the table, awaiting the rest of the dishes before starting. As a general under Lord Crimson, it naturally couldn't act without manners like those demons.

Wooden platters that required several people to carry were successively placed on the broad table, featuring an array of braised, roasted, boiled, and grilled dishes. Today's banquet was smaller, demanded a total of thirty-six varieties.

"What about the main dish?"

The Leopard waited a moment, its gaze drifting to the space left empty on the table, then glancing sideways.

Mere mortals were not enough to satisfy its appetite.

Even at a smaller banquet, something prized by a warrior of the Jade Liquid Boundary or above was needed.

"We won't be getting anything from the other cities today, so it must be my turn. I'll go get ready," the middle-aged man serving at the side, once a renowned expert from a sect, casually removed his outer garment, left with just a clean, plain outfit; he evidently had been prepared, and turned to walk towards the kitchen.

"Make it quick."

The Leopard nodded, urging in a soft voice.

"..."

The steps of the middle-aged expert faltered, his hanging hands wanted to clench, but he realized that he had forgotten how to use the once familiar and proud techniques.

On the day the city was broken, those with spirit had all perished.

What remained were all vacillating weaklings.

He could turn and punch out, dying with a bit more dignity, but the price of that dignity was the lingering, struggling lives of his clan.

Like a frog being boiled slowly, no longer able to leap.

The middle-aged expert resumed his steps and exited the dining hall.

He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but in his field of vision, a long knife quietly appeared.

Quietly suspended in the sky.

The slender blade bore serrated scale patterns, emitting a faint glow, with black mist rising from it.

"..."

The middle-aged martial arts master suddenly felt a loss of strength, his body wavered, nearly collapsing to the ground.

He struggled to keep himself upright, careful not to let the leopard discern any weakness.

A blade wouldn't just appear out of nowhere in the sky; it surely was held by someone...

The General had arrived!

At last, the Demon-suppression Bureau, no longer able to protect the remaining four provinces, had returned.

But there was not a trace of Incense Willpower in this place.

"Tss."

The leopard looked up at the sky, its luxurious long robe torn apart by the suddenly bulging muscles as it reached for the weapon nearby.

Normally, a Martial Immortal would have overwhelming power over an Embrace Pill Realm Demon Monarch, but with the General of the four provinces gone and no Incense Willpower to assist, it still felt confident in blocking a single strike.

"Old fart, don't you care about your Song State anymore?"

Accompanied by a roar, the leopard sprang to its feet.

In an instant, the long blade from the sky plunged down vertically.

With no grand momentum,

Before the leopard could raise its weapon, the long blade pierced through the top of its head, exiting from its jaw, and pinned its enormous head firmly to the only empty spot on the table.

The robust Incense Willpower spilled out within its skull.

The leopard made gargling sounds, blood and bodily fluids spraying from its eyes, nose, and ears, resembling a fat fish nailed to a plank, its body twitching reflexively.

Amongst the dismembered limbs and scattered feasts, the main course had finally arrived.

...

Outside the city gate.

Zhang Xuan watched as Officer Shen closed his eyes, only to see his long blade swiftly unsheathe and soar into the sky.

It took him a breath to realize that the other party had directly invoked the Yin God.

No, could he trust me that much?

Zhang Xuan swallowed, leaped off his horse in a flash, and stood on guard beside the other man.

Before he could steady himself,

A streak of light zipped across from the sky, followed by a massive figure plummeting down.

The light clanged as it returned to its sheath.

And before the massive figure could touch the ground, Shen Yi opened his eyes and casually waved his hand, tucking it into the pocket at his waist.

"Let's go."

Shen Yi tugged on the reins, and spurred his horse into the city.

He had only wanted to try; the Yin God was his, but he wondered if controlled by Qinghua, it could still harvest the demon's life force.

[You have slain the Embrace Pill Realm leopard, with a total lifespan of 8,700 years and remaining lifespan of 2,900 years, absorption complete]

"..."

Zhang Xuan looked at the Demon Horse, the Demon Horse looked back at him, then snorted.

Yin God detached, that was a true Martial Immortal.

Indeed fitting for a Disciple of the Martial Temple.

The problem was, he had seen Martial Immortals before, and without Incense Willpower, how could one be so swift and decisive? Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire

From Officer Shen closing his eyes to the blade's return, it all happened in less than sixty breaths.

Excluding travel time, that meant the demon leopard didn't even withstand a single move?!'

"Officer Shen, wait for this subordinate!"

After hesitating shortly, Zhang Xuan realized the other man was already out of sight, and quickly mounted his horse to follow.