Chapter 38: Stepping on the Tianjiao, rising like the sun

Chapter 38: Trampling Prodigies, Rising Like the Morning Sun

Outside the Law Enforcement Hall.

Zhou Yang was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing to the ground.

His eyes bulged, blood flowed from his nose and mouth, and his sternum was completely shattered, clearly indicating he was hanging on by a thread.

All the Disciples present were shocked.

Their eyes widened.

A Prodigy ranked in the top ten among Outer Sect Disciples, defeated just like that?

With just one palm strike, without even using a Spell, purely relying on the strength of his Physical Body, he instantly crushed a Spiritual Artifact and nearly killed an Outer Sect Prodigy in the Half-step Foundation Establishment Stage.

Was this truly possible?

Even the number one Outer Sect Disciple probably couldn’t do such a thing.

Who was that person?

Who was he?

Counting all the famous and talented Geniuses among the Outer Sect Disciples, none seemed to match.

For a moment.

All eyes were focused on Jiang Li.

On the other side.

Zhou Yang lay sprawled on the ground, covered in blood, his ears ringing, his mind dazed, as if unable to accept this fact.

He instinctively cast a resentful gaze at Jiang Li, raging impotently, “Impossible! I’m in the Half-step Foundation Establishment Stage. Below Foundation Establishment, I am invincible. Even against Foundation Establishment, I might not be unable to fight. How could you, a Qi Refining eighth layer, possibly defeat me?”

Jiang Li said nothing.

He raised an eyebrow slightly.

You’re invincible below Foundation Establishment, so what am I?

The Getting Started (Entry Stage) of the Imperial Extremes World-Shocking Skill possesses a powerful Physical Body comparable to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment. His Physical Body can shatter Spiritual Artifacts, and his performance is even stronger than a Body Cultivator. A Half-step Foundation Establishment, where did he get the audacity to claim himself invincible below Foundation Establishment?

He wouldn’t even dare to make such a boast.

“Be punished. You thought you were well-hidden, but you couldn’t hide from me.”

Jiang Li said calmly.

His deep gaze fell on Zhou Yang, his words, devoid of emotional fluctuation, slowly spread.

He thought to himself: This unlucky guy just happened to run into the System’s crosshairs. It’s a good deed.

Otherwise, he had planned to report the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s mole.

Ten Thousand Demons Sect mole: We should thank you, huh.

Zhou Yang spat out a mouthful of blood, his expression twisted, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you attacked me without distinguishing right from wrong and gravely injured me. I will definitely demand justice from the Law Enforcement Hall for this matter.”

Hearing the conversation, everyone on the scene finally recalled that the incident began because Jiang Li accused Zhou Yang of being a Demonic Cultivator.

Some Disciples began to use a Qi-sensing Spell, scanning Zhou Yang.

Finally, they looked puzzled.

Because they didn’t detect any blood-fiend Qi on Zhou Yang.

Was it a misunderstanding?

If so, this Jiang Li would be in big trouble.

Attacking a fellow Senior Brother without cause, gravely injuring him, and doing so at the entrance of the Law Enforcement Hall—the nature of this incident was very severe.

Just then.

A clear voice rang out.

“No need for such trouble, we’ve already invited Elder Cui.”

It was Li Xi who spoke.

As her words fell.

Elder Xingfa Cui Yan appeared on the scene, followed by Murong Qing and Li Xi.

Seeing that the situation hadn’t gotten out of control yet, Li Xi gently patted her chest and shot a small glance at Jiang Li.

“What’s going on?”

Cui Yan frowned, looking at the scene before him.

Due to the urgency of the situation, Murong Qing and Li Xi hadn’t had time to explain to him.

Now, looking at it.

Was this a private fight between Disciples?

From the outcome, Jiang Li was clearly the victor, and it was a crushing victory.

His opponent, Zhou Yang, was left with only a breath.

Cui Yan gave a look.

Jiang Li immediately understood and explained, “Elder Cui, you know about my special talent. I discovered that this Zhou Yang is a Demonic Cultivator.”

Cui Yan was startled.

A Demonic Cultivator?

And a top Outer Sect Prodigy like Zhou Yang?

He remembered Jiang Li’s Pure Heart talent. Could this talent also be used to distinguish Demonic Cultivators?

He had basically believed eighty percent of Jiang Li’s words.

No other reason.

Jiang Li’s determination and belief in eradicating demons and defending the Dao, coupled with his Pure Heart, and being the next Cultivator of the Ten Directions Thunder Hell Demon Subduing True Scripture personally chosen by the Sect Master, a future Saint candidate, made him trustworthy.

Zhou Yang, at this moment, seemed a bit flustered.

He hadn’t expected that Murong Qing and Li Xi, the two Holy Land jewels, would actually side with Jiang Li and even invite the Elder Xingfa.

He hadn’t intended for things to get this big.

“Elder Cui, he’s slandering me.”

Cui Yan waved his hand, “Whether it is or not, a look in the heart-questioning mirror will tell.”

Hearing this.

Zhou Yang’s heart went cold.

His hidden methods could deceive simple Spells like the Qi-sensing Spell, but they couldn’t deceive the heart-questioning mirror.

“I, I…”

Zhou Yang stammered.

His eyes darted around.

Blood mixed with cold sweat dripped from his face, making him extremely flustered.

Seeing this reaction, Cui Yan could basically confirm that Zhou Yang indeed had a problem.

According to his usual forceful methods, he would simply take Zhou Yang away for interrogation at this point. However, considering that Jiang Li, as a Saint candidate, shouldn’t leave an impression of acting arbitrarily, he still took out the heart-questioning mirror, infused it with magical power, and shone it on Zhou Yang.

With this illumination, Zhou Yang was immediately exposed.

A monstrous blood Qi emerged from his body.

However, this blood Qi was also enveloped by a layer of golden light.

It was this layer of golden light that suppressed the blood-fiend Qi, preventing it from being detected by the Qi-sensing Spell.

“Power Of Will from incense, so that’s it. No wonder you weren’t discovered.”

Cui Yan understood.

He snorted coldly: “Take him down and bring him back to the Law Enforcement Hall for interrogation.”

At this moment.

Zhou Yang completely collapsed.

His limbs were weak, and he was carried away.

Seeing this scene.

Many Disciples were deeply shaken.

A top ten Outer Sect Prodigy, whose fame was unparalleled, was finished just like that.

And the instigator’s name was Jiang Li.

A rising star with a Cultivation of only Qi Refining eighth layer, yet capable of breaking Spiritual Artifacts with his bare hands and defeating a Half-step Foundation Establishment with a single palm.

Zhou Yang was finished, but a new sun was rising.

… …

At the same time.

Li Xi’s cheeks puffed out slightly, like she had just blown a dandelion, then let out a ‘whoosh—’ of air: “Ugh, it’s finally over. I didn’t expect Senior Brother Zhou Yang, who seemed so gentle, to actually be a Demonic Cultivator in secret. I wonder how many more people like him are in Tianxuan Holy Land.”

Jiang Li: …She’s hinting at me.

“It’s not over yet.”

Jiang Li spoke.

Option three’s mission requirement was to uproot all the protection umbrellas behind the Demonic Cultivator and eliminate future troubles. Just capturing one Zhou Yang was not enough; the forces behind him were the real challenge.

Li Xi tilted her head, but Murong Qing understood his meaning and said in a cool voice, “Indeed, it’s not over. The Power Of Will from incense only exists in secular Imperial Dynasties and requires taking root in a place, benefiting the local people, to have a chance to acquire it. Zhou Yang clearly doesn’t fit this, yet he has abundant Power Of Will from incense to cover his blood-fiend Qi. This means there’s a force behind him aiding and abetting evil, and his Family is the most suspicious.”

Li Xi understood, her eyelashes fluttering rapidly, “The Zhou Family is also Cultivating the Demonic Path, and they are using the Power Of Will from the common people in the secular commanderies to cover themselves. How… how dare they?”

Murong Qing lowered her gaze, her voice dropping, “Strength.”

Jiang Li raised an eyebrow.

That was indeed correct.

What was the biggest characteristic of Demonic Cultivators? Rapid achievement.

Once one experienced the pleasure of rapidly increasing Cultivation, they could no longer tolerate slow Cultivation.

Falling into the Demonic Path was only a matter of time.

On the other hand.

Cultivation Families, having operated in secular Imperial Dynasties for many years, had long become local overlords, controlling all affairs in their commanderies. Even if there were problems, the news wouldn’t get out.

And now he had to confront such a Cultivation Family and uproot them.

Damn, is the System’s pace too fast?

Jiang Li thought to himself.

At this moment.

Murong Qing seemed to sense something, her clear eyes fixed on Jiang Li, and she said, “You want to continue investigating?”

Jiang Li: Holy crap, is this woman a worm in his stomach? Are they that in sync?

“Yes.”

Jiang Li admitted.

“I’ll go too.”

Murong Qing immediately responded, then paused and added, “I need Achievements (merit).”

“Eh? If you’re all going, how can I be left out? Jiang Li, I want to go too. I’m very powerful, you know.”

Li Xi also quickly raised her hand.

Afraid of being left behind.

【Ding, the Cultivation Technique “Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art” is immensely pleased. Having cultivated an astonishing Spell, to descend the mountain together to slay demons and eliminate evil, with such like-minded companions, its Dao is not alone, and its righteous belief begins to grow strong.】

Jiang Li: “As you wish.”

After finalizing the action plan, Jiang Li and his group returned to the inner hall.

They explained the situation.

Elder Xingfa Cui Yan nodded: “If you want to go, then go. Coincidentally, the Law Enforcement Hall has interrogated some information from Zhou Yang. It was indeed the Zhou Family who provided him with the Power Of Will from incense. The Zhou Family Patriarch also Broke Through to the Foundation Establishment Stage five years ago. It can basically be concluded that they have mastered some Demonic Path methods.”

“I have already posted the investigation of the Zhou Family as a bounty mission, so I’ll leave this matter to you.”

【Ding, the Cultivation Technique “Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art” is duty-bound. Second wave of demon extermination, action begins…】