"The Supreme Profound Upper Sect!"

The three of them froze when they heard this news.

Shen Ye had said people from the Supreme Profound Upper Sect would come, but they hadn’t expected them to arrive first.

Baili Yanran looked at the village chief. "Sir, were the ones who took action really from the Supreme Profound Upper Sect?"

The village chief nodded. "That’s what they said. I suppose so. I’m not too clear on the details, old as I am."

Hearing this, the three of them were more or less certain.

It was only normal that the village chief didn’t know the specifics.

After all, how would the chief of a small fishing village know about these top-tier Martial Dao Sects?

They were on completely different levels.

One was in the Celestial Palace, the other in the mud!

"It’s all thanks to them. Otherwise, I’m afraid Xiahe Village would have been finished."

The village chief sighed.

"About how many Demons and Monsters attacked?" Fang Xing asked.

The village chief shook his head. "It was chaotic. Who could say? A lot, anyway."

"Some of the Demons and Monsters were killed by the great figures from the Upper Sect, and some others slipped into the lake and escaped."

Listening to the village chief, the group roughly understood the situation.

Shen Ye glanced around the village, then looked back at the chief. "Where did those people go?"

"It seemed like they headed toward Nanhe Village. That’s all I overheard," the village chief replied.

"Nanhe Village..."

"That’s also one of the villages most severely affected by the demon scourge."

As the village chief spoke, relevant information quickly surfaced in Fang Xing’s mind.

’The people from the Supreme Profound Upper Sect have already gone. The Demons and Monsters there have probably been cleared out...’

Fang Xing’s brows furrowed.

’The situation has changed.’

’The Supreme Profound Upper Sect has intervened.’

’I’m afraid my plan will have to change again.’

...

After talking with the village chief for a while, Fang Xing’s group of three left Xiahe Village.

Before they left, Baili Yanran gave the village chief some silver. Though it wasn’t much in their eyes, for an ordinary person, it was a considerable sum.

It would at least help with their immediate needs.

After leaving Xiahe Village, Fang Xing and the others stuck to their original plan and headed for Nanhe Village.

There might be some that slipped through the net, after all.

After all, the Demons and Monsters that escaped might return.

...

"They were thorough, alright. Didn’t leave a single one."

Fang Xing sighed inwardly after entering Nanhe Village and learning of the situation.

The people from the Supreme Profound Upper Sect had already taken care of it. At the village entrance, one could even see the heads of several demon Water Monsters impaled on wooden stakes as a warning to other Demons and Monsters.

After a quick scan, Baili Yanran looked at Fang Xing and Shen Ye. "I expect all the nearby Demons and Monsters have been cleared out. Let’s head straight for Jinhu Town."

Fang Xing and Shen Ye had no objections and nodded in agreement.

Having reached a consensus, the trio set off toward Jinhu Town.

—

Around two in the afternoon.

Fang Xing and his party arrived in Jinhu Town.

Jinhu Town was an ancient lakeside town within the Dongting Lake region, administered by Jinlin County.

Although it was just a small town, its prosperity was comparable to that of a County Town.

The reason was simple: Jinhu Town possessed the largest port within a hundred-li radius.

Golden Lake Port.

It was a vital port connecting to other counties.

The town was also a junction where three counties met.

A necessary stop on the route for traveling merchants.

However, ever since the plague of Demons and Monsters erupted, Jinhu Town had lost its former prosperity.

Now, Jinhu Town was shrouded in the shadow of the Demons and Monsters.

Everyone lived in fear for their own safety.

The once bustling and lively Golden Lake Port no longer had any ships coming or going.

Only a few broken-down fishing boats were moored by the docks.

Even the most prosperous street in the center of Jinhu Town had lost its lively atmosphere.

Nearly every house had its doors shut. Even in broad daylight, there were few people on the streets, and those who were out hurried along anxiously.

The three of them observed their surroundings as they walked.

The streets were exceptionally deserted, painting a picture of depression.

Jinhu Town relied on Dongting Lake for its survival, so the eruption of the demon scourge had a massive impact.

Before long, the trio stopped in front of an inn.

Jinhu Inn!

It was practically the only inn open on the entire street.

"This place is pretty crowded."

Fang Xing was a little surprised as he looked inside the inn.

The inn was packed with people, a stark contrast to the desolation elsewhere.

This situation was rather abnormal.

The impact of the demon scourge was enormous, causing casualties comparable to a war. Under normal circumstances, people would have chosen to flee elsewhere.

But the Jinhu Inn before them was an exception.

"They’re all Martial Artists!"

Fang Xing swept his gaze across the room and quickly noticed something different.

Based on the fluctuations of their Qi and blood, everyone in the inn was a Martial Artist.

Moreover, almost all of them were Martial Artists who had reached the Neutralizing Force Level, and there was no shortage of True Qi Realm Martial Artists among them either.

A small inn, yet it was filled with a gathering of Martial Dao Masters.

"So many Exorcists have come."

Baili Yanran said in surprise, looking at the numerous figures in the inn.

Exorcists!

Hearing Baili Yanran speak, Fang Xing’s gaze sharpened as information flashed through his mind.

These were a class of people from the common populace who made a living by slaying Demons and Monsters.

Most came from various Jianghu Sects or were lone Martial Artists.

They earned bounties.

For example, if a demon scourge broke out somewhere, the authorities would issue a bounty.

Of course, there were also private bounties.

From large merchant guilds and the like.

Being an Exorcist was a life lived with your head on the line.

Although the bounties were generous, the danger was also immense.

Without sufficient strength, it was hard to survive in the trade.

Of course, not just anyone could be an Exorcist. The profession had a standard.

The minimum requirement was to be a Martial Artist with a Neutralizing Force Cultivation.