93: Chapter 93 A Belated "Justice"? I think you've come here to die.
The surface of the Canglan River surged violently.
"Boom!!!"
Following a dull thud from beneath the water, the entire Canglan River seemed to boil.
A water column thousands of feet high shot into the sky, reaching the clouds.
Amidst the splashing water, Lin Que held Su Qingyu with one hand and stepped through the Void Realm, landing steadily on the walls of Canglan City like a god of war returning from the abyss.
At this time, his upper garment had long since exploded during the previous battle, revealing his lean and strong upper body.
Under that bronze skin, a purple-gold luster (Heavenly Demon Flesh Essence) faintly flowed, and every muscle line seemed to contain power that could shatter the heavens.
"He's out! Young Master Lin is out!!"
"Is that... the head of the Demonic Cult's Special Envoy?!"
When the defenders and surviving civilians on the city walls saw the head (Ye Sha's) Lin Que was carrying, they erupted into earth-shattering cheers. The beast tide had retreated, and the Devil Head was slain.
This crumbling, isolated city had truly been saved by these two young people!
However.
Before everyone could be happy for long.
Buzz—!!
A massive sound of breaking air suddenly came from the horizon.
Three Golden War Vessels, each a hundred feet long and shimmering with light, broke through the clouds and slowly descended over Canglan City with a high-and-mighty pressure.
On the war vessels, banners blotted out the sun, with the large characters "Zhengdao Alliance · Law Enforcement Hall" written prominently.
"It's the reinforcements from the Zhengdao Alliance headquarters!!"
The Lord of Canglan City shouted excitedly, "Though they're late, they've finally arrived!"
However, Lin Que looked up at the three war vessels, his eyes narrowing slightly as a cold smile curled his lips.
"Reinforcements?"
"I think they're here to 'reap the rewards'."
Sure enough.
From the foremost war vessel, an old man wearing a white Daoist robe with gold patterns and holding a horsetail whisk flew down, surrounded by a group of Disciples.
He didn't look at the wounded throughout the city, nor did he greet the city lord who had fought a bloody battle.
Those shrewd old eyes immediately locked onto Lin Que... and the thick, lingering Heavenly Demon Aura on him (having just finished devouring it and not yet fully digested it).
The Vice Hall Master of the Zhengdao Alliance's Law Enforcement Hall—Elder Xuan Ku!
Cultivation: Nascent Soul Middle Stage!
"Bold demonic spawn!!"
As soon as Elder Xuan Ku landed, he let out a thunderous roar, flicked his horsetail whisk, and a majestic Nascent Soul pressure directly enveloped the area: "How dare you release Devilish Qi in Canglan City in broad daylight!!"
"Men! Seize this Devil Head for me!!"
The entire scene instantly fell silent.
The Lord of Canglan City was dumbfounded and hurriedly stepped forward to explain: "Elder Xuan Ku! You've misunderstood! This is Young Master Lin! He's the one who repelled the beast tide, killed the Demonic Cult's Special Envoy, and saved the people of the city!"
"Saving people?"
Elder Xuan Ku sneered, his greedy gaze sweeping over Lin Que's body (he sensed the massive flesh and blood energy within Lin Que, which was an Opportunity for Immortal Ascension): "Absolute nonsense!"
"I see this person surrounded by Devilish Qi and his Physical Body is eerie; he clearly practices an extremely profound Demonic Technique! This so-called saving people is nothing more than the Demonic Cult's internal infighting!"
"Moreover..."
Elder Xuan Ku pointed at Lin Que: "The Canglan Water Mansion is an ancient Forbidden Ground. Where is the sealed item inside? It must have been pocketed by this Devil Head!"
"Hand over the treasure, cripple your cultivation, and follow me back to the Law Enforcement Hall for trial! Otherwise, you will be executed on the spot!"
The true intentions were revealed.
How was this exorcising demons? This was clearly eyeing the opportunities and treasures on Lin Que!
"What a Zhengdao Alliance, what a Law Enforcement Hall."
Standing on the city wall, Lin Que laughed out of sheer anger upon hearing this distorted logic.
He let go of Su Qingyu, signaled her to step back, and then leisurely took out a handkerchief from his storage ring to wipe the blood from his hands.
"Old man, your abacus is clicking so loudly I could hear it from underwater."
Lin Que casually threw away the handkerchief, his gaze turning cold: "Want to steal my things? You're not worthy."
"Presumptuous!!"
Elder Xuan Ku was furious: "Stubborn and incorrigible! Since you're looking for death, I shall act on behalf of Heaven!"
"Noble Exorcism Formation! Rise!"
He waved the horsetail whisk in his hand.
Dozens of Golden Core Law Enforcement Disciples behind him simultaneously summoned their Magic Treasures.
A golden pillar of light descended from the sky, transforming into a massive character for "Slay," carrying the Noble Spirit specifically designed to suppress demonic Cultivators, and heavily suppressed Lin Que!
This Noble Spirit was like poison to ordinary demonic Cultivators, causing injury upon contact.
"Young Master Lin, be careful!!"
Su Qingyu cried out.
However, facing this judgment called "justice."
Lin Que stood in place without moving, even letting out a yawn.
"Noble Spirit? Specifically kills Devil Heads?"
Lin Que looked at the massive golden "Slay" character above his head.
[Attribute attack detected: Noble Spirit (deals critical damage to targets with high malice value).]
[Current target identified: Lin Que (Demonic Cultivator).]
[Logic Reorganization activated—Good and Evil Reversed!]
[Tampering with judgment logic: Directing "attack target" to—the person with the darkest heart and greatest greed on the scene!]
[Target locked: Elder Xuan Ku (Greed value 100%)!]
"Old man, since this Formation is for exorcising demons."
"Then taste for yourself... just how big the demon in your heart is!"
Buzz!
Just as the massive golden "Slay" character was about to land on Lin Que's head,
it suddenly seemed to gain sentience and slammed on the brakes in mid-air! Then, it seemed to catch a whiff of an even more nauseatingly foul stench.
Whoosh!
The "Slay" character actually reversed direction and, ten times faster than before, smashed heavily toward the spellcasting Elder Xuan Ku!
"What?!"
Elder Xuan Ku was stroking his beard and smiling, waiting to see Lin Que turn to ash, when he suddenly felt a chill over his head.
Looking up, his old face instantly turned green with fear.
"Formation backlash?! Impossible! I have lived my life upright and honorably... Ah!!"
Boom!!!
The Noble Exorcism light pillar, which condensed the power of dozens of Golden Core Cultivators and was further enhanced by Elder Xuan Ku, slammed squarely onto his own crown!
"I'm not reconciled!! Why is the Noble Spirit striking me?!"
Elder Xuan Ku screamed as he was blasted away, his body emitting black smoke and his Daoist robe shredded; his originally immortal-like image instantly turned into that of a beggar.
Most ironically, because the greed in his heart was so heavy, the damage the Noble Spirit dealt to him was actually higher than it would have been to a demonic Cultivator!
"Pfft—!!"
Elder Xuan Ku spat out a mouthful of blood, lying on the ground and pointing at Lin Que with a trembling finger:
"Demonic... Demonic Technique! You... you are the Heavenly Demon Reincarnation!!"
"Heavenly Demon Reincarnation?"
Lin Que brushed the dust off his clothes and walked step by step toward the dog-like Elder Xuan Ku.
With every step, his Aura rose another level.
Now, his Physical Body had reached the Half-step Soul Transformation stage.
Even without using the System, crushing a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivator was like crushing an ant.
"Old man, you've got one thing wrong."
Lin Que walked up to Xuan Ku, stepped on his wrinkled old face, and ground it down hard:
"I am not a Heavenly Demon."
"I am the Demon Venerable."
"Since you say I am a demon..."
Lin Que raised his right hand, his Four-colored Golden Core rotating; in his palm, a long blade condensed from purple-gold blood Qi appeared out of thin air.
"Then I'll show you what a demon looks like."
"Don't! Don't kill me! I am the Vice Hall Master of the Zhengdao Alliance! If you kill me, the Alliance Leader won't let you... Ah!!"
Pfft!
Lin Que didn't bother listening to his nonsense and brought the blade down.
A white-haired head rolled away.
Then, Lin Que skillfully grabbed the Nascent Soul that was trying to flee, slapped on a Seal Talisman, and packed it away.
"That's the second Nascent Soul."
"Adding the one from Ye Nantian before..."
"The 'Medicinal Pills' for this promotion to the Nascent Soul Stage are finally gathered."
Lin Que put away his blade and looked up at the three Golden War Vessels in the sky, whose occupants were already paralyzed with fear.
The hundreds of Zhengdao Alliance Disciples on board were now trembling, looking down at the man stepping on their Vice Hall Master's corpse as if they were looking at a god of slaughter.
"Go back and tell Alliance Leader."
Lin Que's voice was like thunder, exploding across the sky:
"I'm protecting this Canglan City."
"Also, tell him to prepare the inventory list of the Zhengdao Alliance's treasury."
"In a few days..."
"I will come to collect it personally."
"Run!!"
The three war vessels, as if granted a general amnesty, turned around and fled in a panic, fearing they'd be eaten by this Demon Venerable if they were a step too slow.
...
On the city walls.
Su Qingyu looked at the figure with his back to the setting sun, stepping on the corpse of a Nascent Soul powerhouse, her eyes filled with infatuation. This was a real man.
Even if the whole world were his enemy, he would still be incomparably arrogant.
"Let's go."
Lin Que turned around, the Evil Qi on his body instantly retracting as he returned to his lazy Young Master persona.
He ruffled Su Qingyu's hair:
"The matters here are finished."
"Next, find a quiet place."
"I'm going to..."
"Shatter the core and form the soul!"