Chapter 148: The Divine Imperial Sacred Blade, Annihilating the Demon God

Gongyang Yan’s tone seemed to soften slightly, but her resolve was exceptionally firm. She understood all too well that once the prophecy began, any concern for reputation was entirely meaningless. The entire city of Dongbin had already been destroyed because of it.

Simultaneously, her gaze fixed upon Dalijian Town. Jiang Dongliu, a Master of Divine Powers from the Yin-Yang Heaven Sect, had remained in Dongbin City for a whole year under the pretext of guarding Mount Dali. Neither wind nor rain could cause him to stir so much as half a step from Dalijian Town. Yet today, she needed this man's help. Otherwise, she would not hesitate to bombard Mount Dali.

Late night descended once more.

Every household bolted their doors and windows, while the city's garrison troops and constables formed patrol squads marching through the streets. Everyone clutched signal flares in their hands, ready to release them at the slightest sign of abnormality. The Demon Suppression Division operatives formed emergency response teams of three, reporting any anomalies nearby at the first instance and rushing to the scene at the second. Even Zheng Yishan was ordered by Lord Gongyang to take the night watch.

Despite his reluctance—having experienced recurring issues over the past few days and remaining suspicious of everything all day long—Zheng Yishan felt increasingly unaccustomed to his new condition after the initial three-day excitement of receiving his prosthetic limb wore off. Although his arm had fused with him perfectly, it made this veteran demon suppression officer suspect that the rune-crafted prosthetic limb manufactured by the Divine Supervision Bureau harbored something strange.

His body was growing stronger and stronger; in just ten days, his physical constitution had at least doubled. Whereas previously he could only manage to project his spiritual consciousness out of his body, he could now use his spiritual consciousness to manipulate objects from a distance of a hundred zhang.

"When will this adaptation period finally pass?" Zheng Yishan worried inwardly.

He had consulted Ding Bo, only to be told that the adaptation period depended on the individual. While physical integration was rapid, psychological barriers could, under certain circumstances, affect one's Dao heart. As an expert at the Spirit Refining level, Zheng Yishan naturally understood Ding Bo's words. Yet he felt that Ding Bo was talking nonsense. Wasn't an affected Dao heart supposed to impair one's strength? Why did he feel his power growing stronger by the day? Power could not simply appear out of thin air. If Zheng Yishan were a genius, he wouldn't have wasted half his life remaining merely at the level of a Demon Suppression Envoy.

"Lord Zheng, do you think this murdering maniac will really appear tonight?"

Zheng Yishan raised his head to look at his subordinate. Luo Jinglin, a swordsman genius. Having entered the Demon Suppression Division a year ago, he had reached the Great Accomplishment of Viscera Refining. Had Baili Feihong not existed, Luo Jinglin would undoubtedly have been the most dazzling talent in the Dongbin City Demon Suppression Division. Zheng Yishan still vividly remembered his performance during the entrance evaluation. Never did he expect that after joining the Division, his talent would manifest with increasing brilliance, soaring from a demon suppression apprentice a year ago to a Grade-B Demon Suppression Envoy. In the future, achieving the position of a Guardian Envoy was well within reach. Word had it that he had already accumulated a considerable amount of meritorious service. Had he already begun preparing resources for Aperture Refining?

"Yes. Go nowhere, just wait right here," Zheng Yishan replied with a solemn expression.

As a veteran of the jianghu, the newly emerged bloody cases were definitely not as simple as ordinary demons and monsters. Doing nothing while simply waiting for the enemy to appear, releasing a signal, and waiting for the superiors to suppress the demon was the proper course.

Dissatisfaction flickered in Luo Jinglin's heart, but he kept silent. Although Zheng Yishan had lost power over the past half-year, finding a Demon Suppression Envoy stronger than him within the Dongbin Demon Suppression Division was truly impossible. Many years ago, he was already a Grade-A Demon Suppression Envoy. Now that he had touched the mysteries of Spirit Refining, he had presumably stepped into the Spirit Refining realm. Perhaps, when the vacant left and right Guardian Envoy positions opened up, he might secure a place among them.

The other Demon Suppression Envoy remained silent. He had entered the Demon Suppression Division around the same time as Luo Jinglin and had only recently entered the Bone Refining stage, remaining merely a Grade-D Demon Suppression Envoy. In front of the two superiors, he had no right to speak.

At that very moment, Zheng Yishan's brows furrowed slightly as a sharp, intense pain began to erupt at the junction of his right arm. The skin of his right hand turned an eerie shade of red, a burning sensation provoking his pain receptors. Keeping his composure, Zheng Yishan concealed his right hand. He was beginning to regret wearing the leather gloves gifted by the Tianbao Pavilion.

It was far too bizarre. He even suspected whether this skin had been stripped from the corpse of some dead person to craft the gloves. A certain cursed power was being emitted from the skin.

"No, I must find a way to tear this skin off."

This special skin had actually merged and connected with his blood vessels and meridians. Tearing off the skin gloves was tantamount to peeling the skin from his own flesh. Imagining it alone revealed the agony involved; the pain of a severed arm might not even compare to the torment of being skinned.

Soon, the pain vanished without a trace, and the discomfort of many days receded along with it. What his right arm conveyed now was a formidable surge of power; through his right arm, his spiritual consciousness could even clearly sense the flow of the vital energy of heaven and earth. It was as if he had instantly stepped into the Primordial Embryo realm.

Zheng Yishan began to hesitate. At this moment, he felt fortunate that this special skin possessed some miraculous ability, allowing him to experience the benefits of a realm he had previously never dared to imagine. Should he perhaps keep it for a while longer? Wait until he truly stepped into the Primordial Embryo realm before peeling it off?

Zheng Yishan successfully persuaded his inner self.

The entire city of Dongbin remained deathly silent.

A sleepless night passed, and Dongbin City was astonishingly peaceful. Not a single person suffered any harm.

Gongyang Yan felt deeply conflicted within; a sense of relief seemed to wash over her, yet it was tinged with disappointment. Jiang Dongliu had already agreed to take action on her behalf against this unknown entity.

"Brother Jiang, it seems the killer knew you were making a move and halted its activities tonight."

Gongyang Yan overlooked the entire city, her gaze hazy.

Jiang Dongliu sighed helplessly. "To be honest, there are many bizarre occurrences in Dongbin City. This killer is definitely the most cunning and wisest of them all; we have all underestimated it. We must remain cautious."

"It seems we have no choice but to contact the Divine Supervision Bureau and have them dispatch a Master of Divine Powers to hunt down this demon in Dongbin City," Gongyang Yan said with a resolute tone.

"Gongyang, I have a suggestion, though I do not know if I should voice it."

Jiang Dongliu, who had been preparing to leave the Demon Suppression Mansion, stopped in his tracks upon hearing that Gongyang Yan intended to summon the sorcerers of the Divine Supervision Bureau, and turned to face her.

"Brother Jiang, please speak your mind."

Gongyang Yan looked weary, yet she did not reject Jiang Dongliu's proposal.

"We have made deductions about this unknown killer. Since it is currently in its recovery phase and rather timid, if we deploy everyone to keep watch, it might not come out to forage. Why not withdraw everyone and concentrate them inside the Demon Suppression Mansion to observe for a single night?"

Gongyang Yan inwardly approved of Jiang Dongliu's proposal. Concluding that the killer was cautious and in its recovery phase was her own judgment. Jiang Dongliu was merely offering a suggestion that built upon her perspective.

"Yet if we do that, the common folk within the city will suffer," Gongyang Yan sighed.

"Sacrificing the lives of a few at this moment will save the lives of the entire city."

Jiang Dongliu's words instantly snapped Gongyang Yan to full awareness. Jiang Dongliu knew about that prophecy.

"This is not like your style. Your sect has always wished for the Guliang imperial family to lose the empire. If Dongbin City were truly destroyed, it might not necessarily be a bad thing for your sect."

"The Dao Master of the Taiyi Sect has already accomplished a heaven-shaking feat. If Dongbin City were to be destroyed now, the Guliang imperial family, desperate to break the prophecy, might conclude that the destruction of the imperial house was the work of the sects, and point their spears directly at our Yin-Yang Heaven Sect."

Jiang Dongliu chuckled softly. "After all, having stayed in Dongbin City for a year, I have no desire to become a scapegoat."

Since he hadn't done it, why should he bear the blame? Moreover, this killer was now disturbing his contemplation of the secrets of Mount Dali.

"Indeed, it is a good method. I must trouble Brother Jiang to make a move for me once more tonight."

"I, too, wish to witness just what sacred entity this killer truly is."

Jiang Dongliu's eyes grew progressively cold. How large was Dongbin City, yet this creature was playing hide-and-seek with him? If he didn't drag the killer out into the light, where would he place his dignity?

"I can finally get a good rest."

Returning home, Zheng Yishan scooped up his delicate concubine onto the bed, indulged in a bout of intimacy, and immediately went to make up for lost sleep. In a hazy, dreamlike state, he felt as though he had been submerged in a pool of blood. He wanted to struggle awake, but his entire body was limp, listless, and muddled.

"Murder! Murder!"

He heard screams. Yet more and more common folk died right before his eyes. Even the members of his household could not escape the demonic clutches.

"Something has happened on Changsheng Street!"

Gongyang Yan's eyes were as cold as lightning. Like a divine dragon streaking across the sky in a flash of white, she flew toward Changsheng Street.

Jiang Dongliu, who had just returned to Dalijian Town and closed his eyes in meditation, instantly sensed a pungent wave of blood rushing toward him.

"Utterly bold, killing in broad daylight! This time, you cannot escape!"

His expression was filled with excitement. It had finally appeared.

brandishing his sword and executing his divine power, he took a single step forward, and his figure materialized on Changsheng Street.

At this moment, the entire Changsheng Street was suffused with blood-colored energy. The hundreds of thousands of residents living on Changsheng Street had been instantly reduced into withered corpses.

This time, the killer no longer concealed its whereabouts, for it had already completely controlled its host.

Gongyang Yan was trembling all over, her eyes blazing with fury as she stared at the center of Changsheng Street, which resembled a bloody purgatory. The figure of a middle-aged man appeared within her sight.

Zheng Yishan!

She knew him intimately. A veteran of the Demon Suppression Division—though his mastery of slacking off and dodging work was top-tier, there was no denying he was a premier Demon Suppression Envoy. He had established monumental battle merits for the Dongbin City Demon Suppression Division. Gongyang Yan could hardly believe what her eyes were witnessing.

"A five-clawed profound-silk python robe? Is this your Grade-A Demon Suppression Envoy?"

Jiang Dongliu looked at Gongyang Yan with astonishment. Her current state caused even him a shiver of dread. Those silver-white eyes, the unique Eye of Truth-Breaking, belonged without a doubt to a top-tier prodigy of this world. Fury and hatred were interweaving within her.

"Zheng Yishan, a veteran of the Demon Suppression Division." Gongyang Yan said each word through gritted teeth, her internal rage burning toward the heavens.

"His state is wrong; he must have been controlled by some powerful evil entity."

"Not long ago, he purchased a rune-crafted prosthetic limb from the Divine Supervision Bureau through the black market."

Gongyang Yan finally pinpointed the source of this crisis: the rune prosthetic limb from the Divine Supervision Bureau had gone wrong.

"No, it is not the prosthetic limb."

Jiang Dongliu's expression grew increasingly grave as he looked at Zheng Yishan's arm. He could detect no signs whatsoever that Zheng Yishan had installed a rune prosthetic limb. No matter how remote or mysterious the Divine Supervision Bureau was, the magical artifacts they crafted left traces behind. It was impossible for a top-tier Master of Divine Powers like him to fail to notice even the slightest flaw.

"If his right arm were fitted with a rune prosthetic limb, I would certainly be able to tell. Ordinary rune prosthetics, even when covered with artificial skin, can be seen at a glance to be artificial limbs. Therefore, the real problem lies in the skin of his right arm."

Jiang Dongliu stared fixedly at the skin on Zheng Yishan's right arm, miraculous light flashing in his eyes. The skin was smooth and delicate, yet beneath the naked eye, hidden within the skin layers, were myriad mystical patterns. Nourished by the blood of hundreds of thousands of people, these patterns were beginning to radiate divine brilliance once more.

Suddenly, realization struck Jiang Dongliu.

"Kill him! The skin on his arm is the skin of a demon god! This is a demon god borrowing a corpse to be reborn; he has already been controlled by the demon god's skin and reduced to its vessel. If it continues to absorb blood, once the demon god's will awakens and revives from its primordial bloodline, the entire city of Dongbin will be utterly destroyed!" Jiang Dongliu roared.

Simultaneously, the Qi of the Five Elements erupted from his body, stirring the vital energy of the Five Elements of heaven and earth.

His sword flashed, tearing through the blood-colored energy field and charging into Changsheng Street, seeking to interrupt the demon god's skin from continuing to absorb blood.

With a single sword strike, Yin and Yang separated at the inception, and the Five Elements converged. His very first move was his supreme divine power, holding nothing back. The entire Changsheng Street was cleaved by the sharp edge; the void split apart as a terrifying Yin-Yang Five-Elements sword descended, piercing through the heavens and earth.

His target was precisely Zheng Yishan's right arm. As long as this demon god's skin was destroyed, the crisis would be averted. Otherwise, the demon god's skin, having absorbed the blood of hundreds of thousands of people, would acquire a massive amount of energy, awakening the full might of the demon god's skin, invoking the imprints of primordial space and time, and summoning the demon god into the mortal world. By then, it would be far too late.

The history of the Yin-Yang Heaven Sect recorded ancient history—the history of their Yin-Yang ancestral master fighting against demon gods. Jiang Dongliu would never allow a demon god to descend into the mortal realm once more.

Gongyang Yan was equally shaken.

A demon god reviving? As an ancient family, they were well aware of the terrifying nature of demon gods. Humanity had paid far too much to slay them.

"Who is it that lured me into making a move?"

This was a scheme, yet also an open trap. At this moment, Gongyang Yan understood completely. The opponent's true objective was the token from her ancestor that she carried. By employing a minor trick to gift such a precious piece of demon god skin, their purpose was to exhaust her foundation. Zheng Yishan had merely been exploited as a loophole in the Dongbin City Demon Suppression Division, reduced to a puppet for the mastermind behind the scenes.

"Humans? Hah!"

Zheng Yishan's skin was covered in blood-colored runes. He raised his head, looking at the tiny ant before him, and laughed dismissively.

The sword had already appeared before his eyes.

Lifting a hand, he gently reached out and grabbed Jiang Dongliu's sword. The Yin-Yang Five-Elements Sword—this supreme sword-dao divine power—looked utterly laughable in his eyes. Yin and Yang were extinguished, the Five Elements were suppressed, yet the razor-sharp blade could not even pierce the demon god's skin.

The skin on his arm was the weakness of this monster before him, but it was also its greatest reliance.

Without a word, Jiang Dongliu abandoned his sword and retreated. The demon god's skin had already recovered a sliver of demon god might; it was beyond what he could shatter.

"Brother Jiang, thank you for your strike. I beg you to guard the surroundings and suppress the spread of the sea of blood."

Gongyang Yan stood loftily in the void, her cold eyes flashing like lightning as she watched Zheng Yishan. The terrifying might awakening upon his body faintly cast the shadow of a demon god.

Jiang Dongliu did not hesitate. The Qi of Yin and Yang enshrouded the sea of blood, and the Five Elements stood like pillars, suppressing all five directions, halting the terrifying expansion of the bloody ocean.

Meanwhile, the common folk of Dongbin City were continuously fleeing the city through various exits. The entire military force of Dongbin City had been mobilized to maintain order and evacuate the citizens. This plan had actually been prepared and put into motion long in advance. Gongyang Yan knew that once things reached an uncontrollable state, the only thing she could do was evacuate all citizens from Dongbin City to minimize casualties as much as possible.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled the necklace from her neck. The finger-sized wooden saber gradually grew larger. It was an extremely ordinary wooden saber, save for a hazy layer of white light enveloping it.

Zheng Yishan, standing within Changsheng Street, tossed the sword aside and continued to absorb human blood. But at this moment, the hairs on his body stood on end. Raising his head, his eerie, blood-colored pupils locked onto the wooden saber in the hands of the frail human.

His face distorted, and he opened his mouth in a roar, the surrounding blood violently wrapping around his body.

A crisis!

If he were truly revived, he could treat this saber with indifference. But at this moment, this very plain and unremarkable wooden saber had sealed off all his retreats, locking onto him. No matter how he fled, he could not escape the will of this saber.

"The will of a half-step Human Immortal!"

He forced out the human language with great difficulty.

"When I return from the ancient world, I shall exterminate your entire lineage!"

The heavens lost their light as the divine sacred saber struck.