Death is already quite tragic, and yet, one by one, heads were continuously split open...

But Fang Che remained expressionless, seemingly unfazed by anything.

Another four slashes went down.

Before the four people made their move, they simply released their Divine Sense prematurely to seal off the space.

However, they still couldn’t stop those bizarre little things from escaping, and as for the faint dots that disappeared, they vanished in an instant, impossible to track.

"There’s no way!"

Meng Hejun mused, took out a Communication Jade, and began transmitting soul messages by releasing his cultivation.

At this moment, Fan Tiantiao descended from the sky into the Guardian Hall.

"In Bai Pingzhou and Baixiang Continent a few days ago, there were mass fatality incidents just like here, but with fewer deaths. Both places are also investigating the cause, but there are no leads, and it’s been reported to the Southeast Headquarters. The Guardian Headquarters is aware of it and instructs us to wait for results. Have there been any discoveries here?"

Fang Che briefly explained the strange circumstances.

Fan Tiantiao’s expression changed, and he immediately took out a Communication Jade to contact the Southeast Headquarters.

And on that side, they were also urgently uploading information.

Everyone’s face was as heavy as could be.

Time passed bit by bit.

The line of carriages outside gradually decreased.

Every fifteen minutes, they examined a corpse, and by the time there were no more carriages coming in, the number of the deceased totaled fourteen thousand three hundred.

There were old and young, strong adults, women, and children.

Fang Che sheathed his sword and stood on the steps of the square, back to the field of corpses, eyes looking into the distant void.

It was unclear what he was thinking.

His face was stiff and somber.

Dusk was falling, and cooking smoke began to rise.

These people lying on the ground, at this moment, were supposed to be happily gathered with family, sitting around the dinner table, enjoying familial bliss.

There should have been a wife cooking tiredly, a husband resting after a day’s work, grandparents coaxing grandchildren with kind smiles, and children mischievous and full of innocent fun...

It should have been like this!

They had not offended anyone or harmed anyone.

Nor had they done any evil deeds.

They were living earnestly and longing, hoping for the future.

And now, they all lay here.

Not a single family was spared, not a single bloodline left!

And even the Guardians didn’t know the reason for this!

Fang Che looked into the distance, thinking that the death of these over fourteen thousand people meant that the houses that originally belonged to them would now be empty spaces, gradually decaying.

The dreams, the aspirations, the happiness of the past... have all turned to nothing!

As he thought, suddenly, a fierce Evil Qi exploded from his body.

With a roar as if mountains were collapsing and earth was splitting: "Kill!"

Everyone turned back in shock.

They saw Fang Che standing there, his figure solitary, and he shouted like thunder and lightning: "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Such a gnashing hatred, such a soaring Killing Intent!

It was an anger and grief that pierced the sky!

Imbued by the strong Killing Intent, everyone spontaneously shouted in unison: "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Angry murderous intent surged, the long wind wailed in the sky, and storms were whipped up.

Meng Hejun and Fan Tiantiao both received the message.

"The Wei Wo Zheng Sect’s Dream Demon! This is a Nightmare Soul!"

"The Dream Demon is devouring human True Spirit."

"Ninth Lord orders, all corpses must be immediately cremated, not left overnight. Otherwise, at midnight, the deceased’s True Spirit will fly away and become sustenance for the Dream Demon."

"Announce a plague order to the public, say the deceased were due to a plague. The matter of the Dream Demon is to be kept within the walls of the Guardian Hall only."

"All personnel of the Guardian Hall, prepare for a life-or-death battle, and stand by for orders."

The order shocked everyone.

A Dream Demon!

It turned out to be a Dream Demon that hadn’t appeared for thousands of years.

And as for the ’plague’ excuse, everyone understood; some things really mustn’t become public knowledge. Once the matter of the Dream Demon was known to the public, who knows what chaos might ensue. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The human heart is unpredictable.

Better it should be considered a natural disaster, a one-time solution.

That night.

Baiyun State was ablaze with a towering fire.

The corpses of over ten thousand people were cremated in the square.

All around, there were countless incense candles.

Mr. Fang had dispatched people to almost empty the entire Baiyun State’s incense candle shops!

The raging fire soared into the sky.

"May your journey be smooth. I wish you may go to a place without the Wei Wo Zheng Sect. If you still have attachments to this world, then perhaps wait a few more years before returning...."

Fang Che stood solemnly before the fire, silently reciting: "...I’m very sorry that we couldn’t protect you, and I’m also sorry that we can’t promise how long it will take for you to reincarnate and return to peace."

Facing the roaring flames, he shouted, "May you be reborn into a world of peace!"

Countless Guardians felt their eyes heat up and shouted in unison, "May you be reborn into a world of peace!"

...

Even upon returning to the Guardian Hall, Fang Che still felt restless.

He felt as if his chest was weighed down by a ten thousand-pound boulder!

Fourteen thousand lives!

Fourteen thousand!

The entire square and earth were covered. Endless corpses, all were living people until before today!

"The Deacons of both halls, divided into shifts, must be ready at any time. The duty cycle is one day and night. Those who aren’t on duty must immediately go home to rest, no overtime allowed! In this battle against the Dream Demon, life and death cannot be guaranteed. Make sure to arrange your affairs at home!"

Mr. Fang looked at the more than three hundred deacons under him, and everyone’s eyes were sharply focused on him, each standing tall.

Usually, they might slack off, or seek comfort in peace, but in this boundless crisis, when the shadow of the Dream Demon enshrouds the entire city, everyone’s eyes were the same in anger, and no one shrank back.

With a solemn look on his face, Fang Che scanned each person’s face and softly said, "Brothers and sisters...

He thought for a long time, wanting to say a few moving words, but when he looked at these people, who usually appeared ordinary but were now calmly prepared to face life and death...

Fang Che ultimately did not say the stirring words, only solemnly and firmly said: "...Peace."