92: Blood Refining Old Monster

As he spoke, he gave Jiang Xun a meaningful look.

Jiang Xun understood.

This was giving him a way out.

"This humble one knows his mistake." He lowered his head and cupped his fists. "I will go and change right away."

"There's a new set in the warehouse, go quickly!" Wei Tuo waved his hand. "Come back immediately once you've changed; Lord Yang has further instructions."

"Yes."

Jiang Xun jogged out of the front hall.

Yang Qian remained silent.

The warehouse was in a corner of the backyard, and its lock was rusted.

Jiang Xun pushed the door open, and a cloud of dust rushed toward him.

It was filled with clutter: dilapidated tables and chairs, rusted weapons, and several wooden chests covered in cobwebs.

In the innermost chest, he found several sets of mysterious black uniforms.

Jiang Xun counted them; there were exactly ten sets.

He suddenly smiled, as if he had realized something.

He picked up one that fit relatively well.

The fabric was thick, the cuffs were tapered, and it came with silver bracers.

A coiled dragon was embroidered on the chest with silver thread, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws.

There was a cowhide belt with a silver animal-head buckle.

Jiang Xun changed into it efficiently.

When he fastened the belt, the metal buckle made a soft click that sounded exceptionally crisp in the quiet warehouse.

He looked down at himself.

Mysterious black robes, silver-threaded dragon, and a copper mask covering his face—he looked quite the part.

When he returned to the front hall, the atmosphere had changed.

Yang Qian sat in the main seat, while Wei Tuo and Zhao Xu sat below him on either side. When they saw Jiang Xun enter, all three pairs of eyes fell on him at once.

Yang Qian sized him up for a few moments and nodded. "Take a seat."

Jiang Xun found a seat at the end and sat down.

"Everyone is here."

Yang Qian spoke, his voice not loud but carrying the oppressive weight characteristic of officialdom. "I believe you all know that a Golden Core demonic Cultivator is on the loose near Qinghe County."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three of them.

Seeing the solemn expressions on Wei Tuo and the others, he continued.

"There is no need for you all to be overly worried."

He went on, "The Prefectural Office has confirmed that the demonic Cultivator is hiding deep within Musong Mountain."

"The reason I have summoned you today is for you to cooperate with an Elder of the Ziyang Immortal Sect to enter the mountains and search for the demonic Cultivator's hiding place."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhao Xu's expression shifted, and he looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Wei Tuo cupped his fists. "Please give your orders, my lord. We will certainly cooperate to the best of our ability."

Yang Qian took a Jade Slip from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

"The specific arrangements are inside. Elder Li of the Ziyang Immortal Sect will arrive in three days; at that time, you will follow his command."

He stood up and brushed off his robes.

"If this matter succeeds, everyone will be rewarded. If not..." He smiled and didn't finish, but his meaning was clear.

Wei Tuo and Zhao Xu hurriedly stood up to see him off.

Jiang Xun also stood up and followed them to see him out.

Yang Qian said, "I still have to visit other counties. Get yourselves ready, and we shall meet at Musong Mountain in three days."

"Yes, yes, this humble one will definitely arrive on time."

Wei Tuo waved farewell.

Yang Qian stepped onto a Flying Sword and vanished before their eyes as a streak of light.

"Cooperate? More like using our lives to wear down that old monster's strength," Zhao Xu said with some dissatisfaction.

Wei Tuo returned to the front hall and sat down.

"What other choice is there?"

"Besides, we won't necessarily lose our lives. The Demon Suppression Divisions of all the surrounding counties will be sending people. We can just hide in the back and not charge forward."

Zhao Xu also sat back down.

He cursed under his breath.

"Of all the places that bastard demonic Cultivator could have run to, he just had to come to my Qingming Province, and near Qinghe County at that."

"What a load of crap."

He looked furious.

"Is that demonic Cultivator very powerful?" Jiang Xun asked.

"More than powerful. That old monster is named Can Rong, a great Cultivator at the Middle Stage of the Golden Core. He's known as the Blood Refining Old Monster. To him, minor Qi Refining Cultivators like us aren't even enough to get stuck in his teeth."

Zhao Xu said in an exaggerated tone.

"Do you know which demonic sect that Can Rong comes from?"

Jiang Xun thought for a moment and said, "It's the Blood Fiend Sect, right?"

"Exactly!"

Zhao Xu slapped his thigh. "Since Brother Jiang knows the Blood Fiend Sect, you should know who its sect leader is."

Jiang Xun's heart suddenly sank. Right!

How could he have forgotten Jiang Hongyuan!

Isn't the current sect leader of the Blood Fiend Sect Jiang Hongyuan?!

"Ember Lotus Demon Venerable, a super demonic Cultivator at the Peak of the Dongxu Realm. Who would dare provoke her people?"

Zhao Xu said dejectedly.

"I've heard she's especially vengeful. Once someone displeases her, she'll hunt them across the Eight Desolations and Five Regions."

"Until death."

The atmosphere in the hall was somewhat heavy.

Wei Tuo spoke up appropriately. "Don't be afraid. We aren't the main force; we're just cooperating on the periphery."

"Even if we go, they probably won't need us... haha."

He said half-jokingly.

Zhao Xu snorted.

"In the end, we'll probably just serve as cannon fodder to lure that old monster out."

Jiang Xun sat down as well. He wanted absolutely nothing to do with Jiang Hongyuan.

That crazy woman... Jiang Xun didn't dare imagine what a terrifying scene it would be if he met her.

Wei Tuo looked at Jiang Xun and said apologetically.

"Daoist Friend Jiang, my intention was to bring you in to fill a vacancy; I didn't expect to drag you into such trouble."

Jiang Xun remained silent.

His mind was in quite a mess right now.

Zhao Xu said lightheartedly, "Actually, there's no need to be scared. Musong Mountain stretches for hundreds of miles; he might not even come through our side."

Although he had figured out the thoughts of those lords above.

Aside from a moment of indignation, this was the only way he could comfort himself.

A Golden Core Stage demonic Cultivator...

...could be an Old Ancestor in some immortal sects.

Their methods were even more inconceivable.

Whereas Zhao Xu had hardly ever seen many Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators.

Jiang Xun didn't want to think about it and chose to avoid the issue for now.

He didn't believe he would be that unlucky.

He comforted himself like Zhao Xu did and avoided the topic.

He looked at Wei Tuo and said tentatively, "What would happen if I left Qinghe County right now?"

Zhao Xu replied, "Forget it. Unless your Registration Papers haven't been filed yet, or you flee to the outer regions, you will definitely be discovered by the local Demon Suppression Division."

Jiang Xun stared at Wei Tuo.

Waiting for his answer.

Wei Tuo sighed. "Your Registration Papers have already been filed. They can't be withdrawn."