Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

Chapter 181: Chapter 109: Moon-Devouring, Come Out and See Me

”Then there’s its arrogant posture.”

”Could it be that it’s only putting on a brave front precisely because it’s seriously injured? It might be trying to bluff us, to buy itself time to recuperate.”

Xu Zhonglin explained patiently.

Chang Yi was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with understanding. ”I see,” he said reverently. ”This humble subordinate has learned a valuable lesson.”

”...”

Zheng Qiao gripped his saber hilt, staring at the young man’s expression.

He silently cursed.

’Fuck! So that’s what this is about.’

’This guy looks simple and honest, but he’s so damn slick. He deliberately created an opportunity in front of all the new recruits for General Xu to show off his magnanimity and wisdom.’

”There will be rewards for everyone when we return.”

A slight smile touched Xu Zhonglin’s lips. With a wave of his sleeve, he commanded, ”All of you, disperse! Form teams of two and set up posts every hundred feet. If you spot a Demon, immediately fire a Spirit Arrow into the sky.”

After all, there was more than one Demon General in the Demon Mountain.

If others dared to interfere, the presence of these human sentinels would allow him and his men to react in advance.

”Chang Yi, you will ride with me.” Xu Zhonglin suddenly felt the young man was worth grooming; there was no need for him to face the same dangers as the others.

”I dare not, General.”

To everyone’s surprise, Chang Yi cupped his fist and refused the Vice General’s kind offer. ”This humble subordinate has already received my orders. I have a duty to fulfill, and I must see it through to the end.”

Xu Zhonglin was taken aback for a second, then he let out a great laugh and spurred his horse onward. ”Good! Excellent!”

’Loyal and courageous.’

’As long as he’s cautious, his ambition isn’t a flaw—it’s a strength.’

’As for his low Cultivation, that’s even less of an issue in the Demon-slaying Bureau.’

’The Foundation Establishment Stage is just a stepping stone. As long as he earns enough merits and trades them for resources, a few months is all it will take for his Cultivation to soar.’

His laughter died down, and a cold glint returned to his eyes.

’It was one thing for Yu Duchuan to look down on him, but now even one of his own newly promoted Captains was concerned for his safety.’

’If I don’t show them some real skill, I’ll truly be underestimated here in the Border Region!’

In the span of a few words, the Vice General’s earlier doubts had vanished completely. All that remained was a thick killing intent and an eagerness to wash his blade in Demon Blood.

”Are you out of your mind?!”

Wang Hong couldn’t resist hitting Chang Yi on the shoulder.

He’d initially thought Chang Yi was just being reckless and greedy for glory, but it turned out he actually had some skill.

But you finally got a chance to get out of danger. There’s no need to keep up the act now, is there?

”Perhaps.”

As the Spirit Horses galloped past, Chang Yi turned to look at the distant mountains. The various expressions vanished from his face, and his eyes glinted with a hidden light.

’I didn’t find that Golden Lion Aura. Someone deliberately placed it in my path.’

’This just confirms my suspicions.’

’I don’t know what Brother Lin plans to do with the Vice Generals once he lures them in...’

’But as long as I trust him, I know I’ll see my aunt again.’

”Form up. Spread out.”

Chang Yi rested his hand on the hilt of his saber and gave the order over his shoulder.

Everyone bowed and cupped their fists. ”Yes, sir!”

In the instant that the young man rejected the Vice General’s kind offer, the envy in their eyes was tinged with a newfound respect.

This gesture of sharing their fate—advancing and retreating as one—made him far superior to that Gong Yue.

...

Sheer cliffs rose like natural ramparts on all sides.

Between them lay a hidden basin with a single, narrow exit, obscured by colossal trees.

The Spirit Horses gathered outside.

Some twenty-odd figures dismounted, completely sealing the only way out.

Without needing an order from Xu Zhonglin, the Captains stepped forward in unison, their Spiritual Power surging.

Golden threads shot out from the soles of their boots, spreading rapidly in a grid-like pattern. Like a vast chessboard, the grid soon covered the entire valley floor.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

Dozens of precious Golden Sun Demon-Subduing Talismans shot forth, transforming into orbs of golden light that hung high in the air on all sides, like miniature suns.

They shone in concert with the golden grid on the ground below.

A moment later, a translucent pillar of light erupted from one of the squares on the grid.

”Only one Demon.”

The Captains waited, scanning their surroundings, but confirmed that no other pillars of light appeared.

”Gentlemen, look at this terrain. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel.”

A savage grin spread across Xu Zhonglin’s face, his long-pent-up frustration finally finding an outlet.

’There’s only one Demon, and it’s probably wounded.’

Feng Yinglong relaxed a bit, chiming in with a grin, ”Time to beat a cornered dog!”

’He was already picturing all the ways he would torture that bastard Lin to death.’

In an instant, the group shot forward, rushing toward the pillar of light.

It was a large, freshly blasted crater.

”...”

The Vice General and his men landed slowly.

Feng Yinglong followed closely behind.

The smiles vanished from their lips. Their faces twitched, and their expressions turned grim and cold.

On a rough dirt platform, seven or eight Qi-Introducing Gourds swayed gently in the wash of Spiritual Power.

It was as if they were silently mocking the assembled men.

”It just wanted to mess with us?” Feng Yinglong asked, his face slack with disbelief, but no one responded.

Xu Zhonglin’s face was livid. His Profound Armor groaned and creaked under the strain.

His breathing grew ragged, and his pupils turned blood-red.

The next moment, he suddenly swung his arm.

A torrent of Spiritual Power tore through nearly a thousand feet of the cliff face, and the small mountain collapsed with a deafening RUMBLE!

”Moon-Devouring! Do you dare face me!”

His furious, piercing roar was deafening, threatening to shatter their eardrums.

The Captains exchanged strange looks, not daring to breathe too loudly. They could only curse him in their minds.

’The Demon went to all this trouble to trick us. As if it would show itself just because he shouted.’

”General Xu, please calm down. We should head back for now.” Feng Yinglong was disappointed, but since he wasn’t from the Demon-slaying Bureau, the humiliation wasn’t his to bear.