Schwing!

Lu Changsheng swung his saber. Two layers of divine fortification enveloped his body, one of them being Boundless Starry Sky Divine Fortification, amplifying his physical strength fifty times over.

A crimson saber light tore through the void. Lu Changsheng struck eight times in rapid succession. He was so fast that the eight saber lights seemed like a single streak.

Crack!

The saber lights struck each of the eight martial artists, and their divine fortification shattered like fragile glass.

Thud!

Eight heads fell and rolled across the floor. The bodies collapsed where they stood, blood spurting from their necks. A metallic stench quickly filled the air. The entire hall was plunged in a deathly silence. One could hear a pin drop.

Just like that, the eight Divine Fortification martial artists were all slain with a single move. In the jianghu, they were regional leaders, founders of sects, unquestioned overlords. They were supposed to be powerful figures, and yet Lu Changsheng had just struck them down with no effort.

The witnesses shuddered. So that's what he meant by seeing them off...

Lu Changsheng sheathed his saber, and the Domains engulfing the hall vanished as well. The corpses lying in the pools of blood were the only proof that a deadly clash had just taken place.

"Governor Zhang, I must trouble you to have this place cleaned up," Lu Changsheng apologized. His tone was calm and steady, as though nothing had happened.

Zhang Wending's heart trembled. Lu Changsheng had just killed eight Divine Fortification martial artists with a single strike. The murderous aura and overwhelming presence of that moment had left an ordinary man like Zhang Wending shaken to the core.

But at the same time, Zhang Wending felt a trace of relief. He was now certain that Lu Changsheng was strong enough and that he could keep these martial artists in line.

"Yes, Envoy. Rest assured, I will have it handled at once."

Very quickly, servants of the prefecture government office arrived to clean up the mess and tidy up the main hall.

As for the remaining martial artists, their attitudes changed instantly after witnessing Lu Changsheng's terrifying display of power.

"Envoy, we are willing to follow you and fight the demonic martial artist."

"The demonic martial artist slaughters without restraint. It has to be eliminated."

"With the Envoy here, it won't be able to stir up any trouble."

At this point, none of them dared entertain any other thoughts. Pride? Demonic essence blood? They forgot all about that. Staying alive was what mattered most. The lingering scent of blood was a stark reminder that this disciple from the Northern Region Heavenly Sect was not to be provoked.

After the hall was cleaned, Lu Changsheng turned to Zhang Wending."Governor Zhang, do you know where the demonic martial artist is?"

"I do," Zhang Wending replied. "The demonic martial artist is in Luochang County. It massacred the entire city. But instead of fleeing, it remained there. No one knows what it's doing."

Lu Changsheng frowned slightly. Luochang County Town... slaughtered an entire city, yet did not leave...

Demonic martial artists were not foolish. Those who were would not survive long. After massacring an entire city, the demonic martial artist would surely know that powerful experts would come. Even if the demonic martial artist could achieve second-stage demonic transformation, the situation would still be extremely dangerous.

As such, it was most puzzling that this demonic martial artist would linger in Luochang County Town. There was only one explanation: they did not choose to stay, but rather, they were forced to stay. Perhaps the slaughter had a specific purpose.

A possibility surfaced in Lu Changsheng's mind. Demonic transformation... could it be trying to achieve a third-stage transformation?

A demonic artist who underwent the third-stage demonic transformation was utterly terrifying. Their power would correspond to the level of a Divine Treasury martial artist. At that level, Divine Fortification experts, no matter their number, would not stand a chance.

"There's no time to waste. We leave for Luochang County Town immediately. Governor Zhang, gather back up from the government office and follow as quickly as possible. I will take these Divine Fortification martial artists and head there at full speed first."

Lu Changsheng could not afford to waste time. If the opponent was indeed on the verge of achieving a third stage transformation, the danger increased with each passing moment.

"Yes, Envoy." Zhang Wending nodded.

Lu Changsheng turned and strode out of the main hall. The martial artists inside exchanged glances, but they had no choice. They could only follow. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Luochang County Town was not far from Qing City. With the stamina and speed of Divine Fortification martial artists, they could reach it in four or five hours just by running at full speed.

Just like that, Lu Changsheng led the twenty-four Divine Fortification martial artists to the outskirts of Luochang County Town.

"Stop." At Lu Changsheng's command, everyone halted.

He looked toward the city ahead. Even after so many days, the stench of blood still seemed to linger in the air. The entire county town was eerily silent. Not a single sound could be heard, as if death itself had swallowed this entire place whole. It was likely that the demonic martial artist was the only being left in Luochang County Town.

"We don't know exactly what's going on. If we rush in recklessly..." one of the Divine Fortification martial artists said cautiously. After all, there was a second-stage demonic martial artist inside. Other Divine Fortification martial artists had entered before, only to never return.

Ignoring him, Lu Changsheng closed his eyes.

Buzz...

His Sense Domain spread out rapidly. As it could cover a hundred li, a mere county was nothing in comparison.

Now, Lu Changsheng could see everything. Luochang County Town was in utter ruin. Corpses lay scattered everywhere, many already rotting. Others were piled into a small mountain of flesh upon a vast open ground.

Close by, there was a figure—a monster undergoing demonic transformation. The figure had completely lost any trace of humanity. Its body was covered in bone spikes and black fur. It was massive, over a zhang tall. Even sitting down, it radiated a malicious aura.

The demonic martial artist was absorbing blood. Streams of blood from countless corpses were being drawn by a mysterious force towards it and flowing over its body. Its face twisted in pain, as though it was at a breaking point.

Lu Changsheng immediately grasped the situation. Just as I thought, it's trying to undergo the third-stage transformation. But it hasn't succeeded yet. I imagine it's not exactly easy.

Just as martial artists needed a fundamental transformation to go from the Divine Fortification Realm to Divine Treasury Realm, the jump from the second to the third stage of demonic transformation was the same. If the demonic essence blood was not powerful enough, reaching the third stage was naturally impossible. In that case, the demonic martial artist would keep collecting essence blood from humans.

In an ordinary human body, there were only a few drops of essence blood, which explained why this demonic martial artist had slaughtered an entire town. It needed plenty of sacrifices to nourish and strengthen its demonic essence blood to break through to the third stage.

However, this method was not particularly reliable for a demonic martial artist. After all, human essence blood and demonic essence blood were worlds apart. To strengthen even a trace of demonic essence blood required the essence blood of countless humans, refined bit by bit.

The gains were rather insignificant for the demonic martial artist, but the devastation on the human side was immense. Reaching the third stage of demonic transformation would cost at least an entire city. As such, this demonic martial artist had to be stopped no matter what.

Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. "Follow me. We'll put an end to this thing."

His voice was firm, leaving no room for doubt. Evil had to be obliterated—simple as that.

Lu Changsheng's figure flashed forward as he rushed straight into Luochang County Town. But when he approached within roughly a hundred zhang of the demonic martial artist...

Whoosh!

The demonic martial artist seemed to sense him and abruptly opened its eyes. "Human martial artists? Finally. The essence blood of Divine Fortification martial artists is far stronger than that of ordinary people."

A savage grin spread across its monstrous face. Its head was lined with sharp, saw-like teeth.

The demonic martial artist let out a deafening howl. "ROAAAAAR!"

Sonic Shock?!

Indeed, it seemed that this demonic martial artist had awakened its sonic attack ability. With every demonic transformation, such beings gained an innate ability, the strength of which depended on the quality of their demonic essence blood.

The howl sent a massive soundwave outward in all directions. Even from a hundred zhang away, it struck like a hammer to the mind, making one feel as if their consciousness were about to shatter.

In a single wave, all twenty-four Divine Fortification martial artists bled from their eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Their expressions twisted in agony as they collapsed to the ground. They were not dead, but they were completely incapacitated.

The demonic martial artist grinned maliciously. Fragile. Twenty-four Divine Fortification experts, but none could withstand a single Sonic Shock from a hundred zhang away. Just how weak are their minds?

Lu Changsheng immediately realized this demonic martial artist was no ordinary foe. Its innate ability was fearsome, and numbers meant nothing against it. His mind had been violently shaken as well, but he managed to hold on. A single sonic assault could not overwhelm him.

Almost instantly, layers of divine fortification enveloped his body: Tempest Divine Fortification, Giant Wave Divine Fortification, Waterfall Divine Fortification, Boundless Starry Sky Divine Fortification. Four layers stacked upon him. A pure, overwhelming physical power radiated from his body.

At that moment, the demonic martial artist paused. "Four layers of divine fortification?"

Even the twenty-four fallen martial artists were stunned. As soon as the Sonic Shock ceased, they began to recover. But when they saw the four layers of divine fortification surrounding Lu Changsheng, they were struck with even greater shock.

Four layers?! What fearsome physical power... What kind of disciple has the Northern Region Heavenly Sect sent this time?

Only one answer came to mind. A scion disciple.

And not just any scion disciple, but one who reigned supreme.