Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 161: Chapter 160: Promotion, Blue Martial Soul

The Purple Flame Barrier vanished, and two Fiery Flame Mad Lions rampaged forth.

But, as the middle-aged man uttered a faint ”suppress” from his lips,

the two Mystic Breakthrough First Layer demon beasts were instantly immobilized.

Together with countless other demon beasts on the field, under his terrifying aura, they were pressed into trembling, prostrating to the ground.

Clearly, he was no ordinary Mystic Breakthrough Realm Martial Artist, he must be at least at the Mystic Breakthrough Third or Fourth Layer.

Otherwise, he couldn’t possibly possess such formidable means.

”Young man,” the middle-aged man’s cold gaze swept indifferently towards Xiao Yi.

”When I came here, I heard from Liu Cangya and the others that there were two hundred thousand demon beasts.”

”Now, there are only about one hundred thousand left.”

”In half a day, you managed to trap two Mystic Breakthrough First Layer demon beasts, and slaughtered nearly one hundred thousand more.”

”Very impressive.”

The middle-aged man, looking at the corpses of demon beasts scattered everywhere and the blood-covered Xiao Yi, did not spare his words of praise.

”Great Commander overstates things.” Xiao Yi clasped his fists and politely replied.

As the foremost elite Martial Artist force under the banner of the Northern Mountain County King, the name of the Blood Blade Guard was known to all within Northern Mountain County.

However, the Blood Blade Guard were extremely secretive in their usual affairs, their whereabouts unknown to anyone.

It was only known they lurked in the shadows, patrolling all around Northern Mountain County.

Any person, matter, or thing that was not to the benefit of the Northern Mountain County King would silently disappear under their stern blood blades.

Should the demon beasts break through the city’s defenses and overrun it, Northern Mountain County would undoubtedly descend into chaos with demon beasts rampant.

This, of course, was a situation that would cause unrest in Northern Mountain County,

and it was something the Blood Blade Guard would not allow to happen.

The Blood Blade Guard were few in number, but each possessed extraordinary strength.

Led by five commanders, each in charge of their own Blood Blade Guard squad.

Xiao Yi was unaware of which commander the middle-aged man before him was,

but he knew that with the man’s Mystic Breakthrough Realm cultivation, he must be one of the five Great Commanders.

He guessed correctly.

The middle-aged man was indeed one of the five Great Commanders of the Blood Blade Guard.

Named Nie Rushan, a Mystic Breakthrough Fifth Layer Martial Artist.

”Let’s finish them off first,” Nie Rushan said in a deep voice, with a sweep of his large hand.

His subordinates, more than a dozen Blood Blade Guards, instantly took action.

The Blood Blade Guards, all dressed in black uniforms with the character ’Blood’ on their chests and a blood-colored blade at their waists,

unleashed their attacks simultaneously, with a flash of blood.

Hordes of demon beasts fell like grass being cut down.

”Blood Blade Guard, truly extraordinary,” Xiao Yi quietly marveled.

These dozen individuals were all of the Mysterious Profundity Ninth Layer cultivation.

And with extremely rich combat experience, their moves were swift, accurate, and ruthless—their true power likely far surpassing that of an ordinary Mysterious Profundity Ninth Layer.

Xiao Yi was not idle either, helping to kill the enemy.

In less than two hours, nearly one hundred thousand demon beasts were turned into souls under the blade.

Even the two Fiery Flame Mad Lions were slain by Nie Rushan’s blood blade, their bodies severed, dead beyond doubt.

With the addition of the Blood Blade Guard, the crisis of the Beast Tide in Green Light City was instantaneously resolved.

After the great battle, the dozen or so Blood Blade Guards neatly returned to stand behind Nie Rushan.

Their faces were cold, their discipline stringent.

Worthy of being the elite under the Northern Mountain County King.

”My name is Nie Rushan,” Nie Rushan stepped over the corpses of demon beasts to stand before Xiao Yi.

”Young man, Yi Xiao.” Xiao Yi gave a courteous bow.

”I know,” Nie Rushan waved his hand and said, ”The most talked about young Martial Arts prodigy of Northern Mountain County, I have heard of you.”

Right at this moment, from a distance, more than a dozen figures were seen controlling the air as they approached.

It was Liu Cangya, Ye Ming, Ning Hao, Murong Ke, and other powerhouses returning.

”Commander, we pay our respects,” as soon as the City Lords of the Eighteen Cities arrived, they immediately kneeled on one knee.

Murong Ke and the Captain of the Demon Hunting Team gave deep bows in salute.

Only Ye Ming gave a slight nod of his head.

The status of the Chief of the Inner Hall of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect was not lower than that of a Blood Blade Guard Commander.

”You useless fools,” Nie Rushan suddenly erupted, swinging his large hand, pouring out a surge of True Qi.

The City Lords of the Eighteen Cities, Murong Ke, and some local powerful figures were instantly sent flying, spitting blood.

Only Ye Ming and the captains of the Demon Hunting Teams were not affected.

”Commander, forgive us,” Liu Cangya and the others immediately knelt down, not daring to even wipe the blood from their lips.

”You, entrusted by the Commandery Prince for the heavy responsibility as the Lords of the Eighteen Cities of the Eastern Desolate; you, as the local family forces, are inseparably linked to the safety of Green Light City.”

”Even knowing death is certain, you should fight to the death without retreating, how could you flee in the face of battle?”

Nie Rushan, pointing at the noses of the City Lords of the Eighteen Cities and the powerful figures of the local families, scolded them angrily.

”It’s fortunate that Green Light City did not fall, otherwise, with Northern Mountain County in turmoil and demon beasts running amok, I would take your lives here and now.”

Nie Rushan, even among the Blood Blade Guard, was known for his strictness.

Always stern-faced, he handled matters diligently and was known for his cold and exacting nature.

”At the thought that you promptly evacuated the citizens within the city, and considering that Green Light City suffered no losses, your merits and faults offset each other. This time, I will spare you.”

”Thank you, Great Commander,” Liu Cangya and others said hurriedly with respect.

”As for you,” Nie Rushan turned his head to look at Xiao Yi, his cold face revealing a hint of a smile.

”Your Qi Spring has reached three hundred and thirty-three fathoms, such a Martial Arts talent.”

”If you’re willing, I can recommend you to join the Blood Blade Guard.”

Nie Rushan was loyal to the Northern Mountain County King.

To Martial Artists with talent within Northern Mountain County, especially someone with supreme talent like Xiao Yi, he naturally showed a pleasant demeanor.

As soon as Nie Rushan finished speaking, Liu Cangya, Murong Ke, and various Demon Hunting Team Captains all showed their envy.

Joining the Blood Blade Guard is a matter of immense honor in Northern Mountain County.

But, Xiao Yi shook his head and said, ”Thank you for the kind offer, commander. I gratefully decline.”

”Oh? Unwilling, are you?” Nie Rushan laughed and said, ”Then it’s as you wish.”

”However, today you risked your life in a deadly resistance, gaining half a day’s time for Green Light City.”

”You fended off the assault, preventing countless demon beasts from entering the heart of Northern Mountain County, averting a disaster and sparing Northern Mountain County from chaos and turmoil.”

”Your contributions must be recorded.”

”I will report to the Commandery Prince and see that you receive the reward you deserve.”

”There’s no need,” Xiao Yi shook his head and said, ”I am a Demon Hunter, and hunting demon beasts is my duty.”

”After this Beast Tide, the Demon Hunting Hall will issue rewards accordingly.”

Xiao Yi was not familiar with the Blood Blade Guard and had no desire to become entangled with them, so he naturally declined.

But Nie Rushan waved his hand and said, ”This is different.”

”The Demon Hunting Hall belongs to the whole world. The Blood Blade Guard belongs to Northern Mountain County.”

”And you, Yi Xiao, are a Martial Artist of Northern Mountain County, defending the cities of Northern Mountain County.”

”This reward cannot be exempted.”

”This...” Xiao Yi frowned.

Listening to Nie Rushan, it was clearly difficult to refuse.

”If that’s the case, then my thanks to the commander,” Xiao Yi said in gratitude.

”As for the reward, there’s no need to trouble the Commandery Prince or the commander. May I ask for all the spoils of war on this battlefield instead?”

Xiao Yi inquired.

”Oh? You mean the corpses of these demon beasts, their Essence Blood, and inner cores?” Nie Rushan showed a puzzled expression.

Liu Cangya explained briefly.

Nie Rushan suddenly realized, ”So that’s it, I didn’t expect you to be a high-level Pharmacist capable of refining Fifth-grade Elixirs.”

”You truly are a formidable young man.”

”Originally, if you wanted this as your reward, I could have decided to give it to you.”

”However, the nearly 200,000 demon beast cores and Essence Blood are too valuable to be given away lightly.”

”And, these spoils of war also belong partly to the dead Human Martial Artists.”

”If you were willing to join the Blood Blade Guard and serve the public, taking these spoils of war would be quite justifiable.”

Nie Rushan’s intention was clear, hoping that Xiao Yi would join the Blood Blade Guard.

Xiao Yi looked troubled but still shook his head and said, ”Your kindness is appreciated, commander. I am willing to pay 30 million taels as consolation for the families of the fallen warriors.”

”May I take these spoils of war?”

”You...” Nie Rushan’s face turned cold as he said, ”Pharmacists really do have money.”

”Enough,” Nie Rushan’s expression softened as he said, ”Since you are unwilling to join the Blood Blade Guard, I won’t force you.”

”But now that Green Light City is recovering, the population of the other five cities must also be arranged to return.”

”The Mayors of the Eighteen Cities, the City Guards, and others are all extremely busy; they have no time to help you collect the spoils.”

”These 200,000 demon beast corpses, you can clean up by yourself.”

”Hmph,” Nie Rushan snorted and left, clearly meaning to ’punish’ Xiao Yi for not falling in line with his wishes.

Xiao Yi gave a wry smile.

Though Liu Cangya, Ning Hao, and others were inclined to help Xiao Yi, at this moment, they didn’t dare speak up and just followed Nie Rushan away.

In a short time, the vast battlefield, littered with corpses, was left with only Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi chuckled quietly to himself when everyone had gone.

The next second, his figure flashed, moving to the side of a fallen warrior.

His back to the city wall, his eyes briefly flickered strangely before he vanished again.

The power of the warrior’s Martial Soul had already been absorbed by him.

As they say, death is like the snuffing out of a lamp; dust returns to dust, earth to earth.

Since the person had already died, it was better to contribute after death.

They were not his enemies; Xiao Yi would not take the power of their Martial Souls without giving back.

In fact, those demon beast cores and Essence Blood, although plentiful, were mostly of the third grade and not worth 30 million taels.

The more significant amount was what Xiao Yi planned to compensate to their families.

Xiao Yi’s figure continued to flit between the corpses.

No one noticed what he was secretly doing, presuming he was only collecting the spoils and cleaning the battlefield.

After about an hour, when he stopped moving, his face could not hide the smile.

Because the Fire Control Beast Martial Soul had advanced to the shade of azure.

And all around him lay the demon beast cores and Essence Blood, waiting to be collected.