Terran Guardian

[Kshhh~]

Sparks suddenly ignited.

Shen Changqing turned around to look at Zhang Long, who was holding a sword with a shocked expression on his face. A regretful expression appeared on Shen Changqing's face.

"Constable Zhang, you are too eager!"

He had planned to have a good time with the monster in the illusion, but Zhang Long's attack was a direct way to retreat from the illusion.

There was nothing that could be done about it. The monster that casted the illusion was not strong.

If there was no interference from outsiders, Shen Changqing could've taken his time to break the illusion. But there was an external interference and the illusion was broken.

"How is it possible, how come you are not hurt at all–" Zhang Long shrieked incredulously. He knew very well what kind of power was possessed in that slash.

Even if it was an expert at the Qi Circulation Realm, being hit with the slash while defenseless, there was no possibility of survival.

Not to mention that the location of his slash was in a fatal place, such as the neck.

It was just that Zhang Long had never expected that Shen Changqing had perfected the [Thirteen Cross Practice]. No, not just perfected it, but broken through to an unprecedented Level 15.

Level 15 of the [Thirteen Cross Practice].

Not to mention that he was resistant against water and fire, he's also invulnerable to weapons like swords and spears.

Even if Shen Changqing just stood still while a Body Forging Realm Cultivator cut him, other than in the eyes and other vital places, there would be no problem.

"As I've said, you're too eager."

Shen Changqing shook his head and slowly walked towards Zhang Long.

An invisible oppression suddenly descended upon him, and Zhang Long couldn't help but take a step back.

Suddenly, a sword light suddenly materialized in the air, which also had Pure Yang True Qi attached to it. With a swift move, Shen Changqing cut off Zhang Long's arm that was holding the sword. The sizzling aura even burned the wound, charring it.

"Ah..."

The severe pain made Zhang Long let out a miserable scream, and his face instantly turned pale.

When Shen Changqing took the second step, the illusion around him changed and he was back in the middle of the courtyard.

At this time, the appearance of the black shadows can be seen clearly, they were children.

The difference was that the children's faces were pale like paper, their lips were blue, and in some places, they were rotten to the point that there were maggots. The smell of decay and foul odor was overwhelming.

"Scram!"

Shen Changqing shouted angrily and Pure Yang True Qi burst out of him.

Level 8 Pure Yang True Qi together with the [Seven Killings Blade Technique] instantly tore the bodies apart.

A scream that does not sound like a human rang out, then the children scattered like a black mist.

The next instant, the illusion disappeared.

The severed arm holding the sword was still on the ground, but Zhang Long was nowhere to be found.

Looking at the blood on the ground, Shen Changqing's face was cold. He took big strides to chase after Zhang Long.

Amidst the silent village, Zhang Long covered the missing part arm as he staggeringly fled. From time to time, he would look behind him. His face was filled with panic.

Even until now, he still couldn't believe that he would be reduced to this point.

"It can't be–"

"I clearly put poison in the pastry, according to the time it should have taken effect already. How come he still exerted such strength!"

Zhang Long did not dare to believe it.

In order to calculate the right time, as well as to ensure that nothing could go wrong, he even purposely did not immediately make a move when Shen Changqing fell into the illusion. Instead, Zhang Long silently waited for the poison to take effect before he dared to strike.

But he miscalculated.

And–

It was a big miscalculation!

One slash cut off his arm, leaving him unable to react. That kind of strength was definitely not comparable to an ordinary Qi Circulation Realm.

At this moment, wind suddenly blew from behind him.

From years of practical experience, Zhang Long immediately lunged to the left. At the same time, he saw a burning sword cut to the ground, which left a considerable mark.

Shen Changqing drew his sword again, looking at Zhang Long, who was lying on the ground and had little energy left. Killing intent rose in his heart.

"Why?"

He did not understand why Zhang Long wanted to kill him.

After coming to Lin'an City, Shen Changqing understood many things, but he could not understand Zhang Long's purpose of attacking him.

"If I tell you, will you let me live?"

Zhang Long gasped, his eyes revealed a desire to survive.

Shen Changqing pondered, "If you say it and cripple your Cultivation, I can let you live."

"Okay!"

•×•×•×•

Shen Changqing still stood in the same place. His sheathed sword had blood stains on it and the dismembered corpse of Zhang Long was on the ground.

Shen Changqing lied.

After Zhang Long told the truth, it represented the end of his life.

In fact, back in Lin'an City, when Zhao Fang said that the villagers were all moved out, Shen Changqing did not find anything wrong.

But later, he noticed that the atmosphere in Lin'an City was different. Only then, did he perceive the problem.

It was too quiet!

Too peaceful!

It was not the atmosphere a city would have when there's an evil calamity close by.

For ordinary people, the appearance of demons should have brought fear, but the people of Lin'an City acted as if nothing was wrong.

If this was really the case, it would mean that the news of an evil calamity hadn't spread.

But, it doesn't match Zhao Fang and Zhang Long's words.

Moreover, when Zhang Long gave Shen Changqing the pastry today, he found out that there was something wrong with it when he took the first bite.

Unfortunately, although the poison in the pastry was not weak, there was no way it could contend against his Pure Yang True Qi.

With the Level 8 Pure Yang True Qi, the poison in the pastry was silently dissolved.

Shen Changqing had thought of different kinds of reasons as to why Zhang Long did this.

Shen Changqing was sure that the evil calamity in Lin'an City was definitely not just a simple evil calamity. Zhao Fang and Zhang Long were also problematic, but he just could not figure out what's the purpose of them doing all of this.

It was not until Zhang Long confessed that Shen Changqing really understood why.

"The people of the village have long been dead. All buried in the hands of demons and monsters, but Lin'an City only falsely reported a few of those deaths and then passed the news up in order to attract people from the Demon Suppression Division."

"With a Ghost Level monster, the Demon Suppression Division would definitely not send a powerful Slayer."

"The biggest possibility is that they would send an Apprentice Slayer over, as an assessment mission."

"Even if that person is in the Qi Circulation Realm, he would definitely not be too strong!"

"Once a Ghost Level monster devours a few of these Cultivators, it would most likely promote into a Grudge Level monster–"

This was Zhang Long's purpose.

To silently cultivate a Grudge Level monster.

After all, if one wanted to cultivate a Grudge Level Monster normally, the flesh and blood that needed to be devoured was bound to be quite a lot. It was simply not something that one or two villages could satisfy.

Moreover, the more people dying, the more it will attract the attention of the Demon Suppression Division.

Once a strong person from the Demon Suppression Division investigates Lin'an City, the Ghost Level monster would be buried in the hands of the Demon Suppression Division before it could even have the chance to promote to a higher level.

Therefore, the only way was to use high quality flesh and blood to feed the Ghost Level monster, so that it can successfully promote before the Demon Suppression Division completely perceives the problem.