Chapter Ten: Carnage

Yandu City was the second largest city in Qinghe County, boasting well-fortified defenses and having grandmasters stationed at its four gates and two pavilions. As the city’s defenders, Yin Hang did not simply guard the walls but charged directly into battle, demonstrating that the threat of the demons could not truly endanger such a formidable city.

Naturally, it was extremely secure.

Every year, Yandu City held a Demon-Slaying Tournament, fostering a martial culture unmatched elsewhere. The only uncertainty was how many demons would assault the city this time, which temporarily prevented them from aiding other locations.

Chen Fan clasped his fists, confirming that the martial arts hall was unharmed, and only then did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Yin Hang raised an eyebrow and added, “Though Yandu City’s demon threat is not urgent for now, the surrounding counties lack skilled fighters and are at great risk. Their defenses don’t compare to a major city. They have sent multiple pleas for help. You should not remain in Yandu City; depart swiftly to support them.”

Chen Fan immediately nodded.

Yin Hang then turned to the Qing Mang army and said clearly, “Deputy Captain Wang, take half of our soldiers and accompany Chen Fan.”

“Yes!” A bloodstained armored man stepped out from the ranks and promptly ordered his troops to spread out.

Chen Fan and the others assisted Yin Hang in holding the city, even killing a sevenfold demon that tried to flee. The pressure on Yin Hang’s forces was thus not overwhelming.

If Yin Hang had not been burdened with the city’s defense, worried about subsequent demon waves, he might have wished to join Chen Fan in the field.

Chen Fan turned to the group and said, “Brothers, meditate and rest for half an hour. Take your pills as needed, use your elemental stones to recover swiftly. Those injured and unable to move should stay behind; the rest prepare to depart!”

Given the urgency, concerns about the toxic side effects of the pills were naturally cast aside.

Chen Fan immediately produced elemental stones, rapidly restoring his true energy while refining his elemental core anew.

…

People had personal ties. As team leader, Chen Fan brought his squad back to support Feiling County.

Deputy Captain Wang of the Qing Mang army and other martial arts academy disciples supported other counties.

Feiling County lay west of Yandu City, still some distance from the border. Being only a county town, the demons attacking it were far fewer and lower in level compared to Yandu City.

Yet even so, Feiling County suffered tremendous losses.

The martial artists there were far weaker than those of Yandu City—too weak. Especially in the rural outskirts, without city gate protection, countless civilians and low-level fighters perished.

The borderlands were mainly controlled by gang martial artists, most of whom were pseudo-fighters at the second or third level. The proportion of powerful martial artists was even lower, resulting in a brutal slaughter against the demon horde.

The entire Huai Tree district, where the old Chen family manor stood, was soaked in blood.

Stronger martial artists from within Feiling County fought outward to repel the demons, but death still came relentlessly.

Screams and wails echoed everywhere.

On the western outskirts, Feiling’s martial artists, at the cost of many lives, finally built a border defense line, using their flesh and blood to hold back the demons.

Boom!

“Tiger Roar Fist!”

Like a roaring tiger, a burly man with bulging muscles unleashed explosive punches, smashing the demons before him into pieces.

This man was none other than You Shahu, leader of the Black Tiger Gang.

Behind him stood seven or eight Black Tiger members, all above the third martial level, his trusted lieutenants.

The group spent quite some time finally dispatching a wave of demons.

Whew!

After clearing the demons ahead, the group breathed a collective sigh of relief, panting heavily.

Disaster had struck Feiling County. Not only did it lack strong fighters, but the number of martial artists was also far too few. In this dire situation, the Black Tiger Gang, one of Feiling’s major forces, naturally bore the brunt of resisting the demons.

Two years had passed, and You Shahu had broken through to the sixth martial level, entering the ranks of Feiling’s strongest fighters.

From a distance, a bloodstained scholar in blue robes approached.

“Gang leader, the surrounding districts have been cleared of demon beasts and those strange creatures. Our Black Tiger main force is evacuating the remaining survivors, and the county’s prominent families have sent disciples as well…”

They did not even know that the martial academy had designated these special creatures as demons.

You Shahu breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “When will reinforcements from other places arrive?”

The scholar shook his head. “So far, only Yandu City has responded and will send aid. The other counties have not replied.”

You Shahu’s expression darkened deeply. After a moment’s thought, he said, “What does that lord say?”

The scholar’s expression grew serious. “That lord says all martial academy disciples have been dispatched to support various parts of Qinghe County and should arrive soon. That lord has other missions and cannot come.”

You Shahu sighed. “Should? Even if the academy disciples arrive, they will go to Yandu City first. We county towns will have to hold on ourselves.”

Before they could rest long, distant screams suddenly rose in waves, mixed with beast roars and the sounds of fierce combat.

“Damn, that’s our outer defensive ring! More demons have appeared!”

You Shahu’s expression stiffened. Charging forward, he shouted, “Brothers, follow me! Let’s crush these demons!”

Gang fighters like You Shahu had amassed their forces through loyalty and brotherhood.

In such perilous times, retreat meant slow suicide. Such a man was naturally full of valor and led by example.

No matter what his lieutenants thought, no one dared propose retreat in this crisis.

They charged to the outskirts, where the defensive ring had become a battlefield of carnage. Dense waves of demons and numerous demon beasts slaughtered human defenses mercilessly.

Many of these were You Shahu’s gang members.

Seeing this scene, You Shahu’s eyes burned with rage. Moving with the majesty of a dragon and tiger, his thick blood surged forth.

He rushed forward!

Though he had just broken into the sixth level, his blood energy was overwhelming, and his combat power unmatched. At just over forty years old, in the prime of his strength, his punches were tyrannical.

The dense horde of over a hundred demons mostly ranked below the fifth level, with a few at fifth.

Demons’ blood energy was no match for demon beasts.

You Shahu’s strength was formidable; as a newly minted sixth level, his martial skills were fierce. Even fifth-level demons could not withstand several of his punches.

But among the demon horde were also several massive demon beasts.

One was a bear demon nearly two zhang tall—taller than a two-story building, terrifying in size.

Its claws swept horizontally, tearing flesh and scattering limbs.

This demon beast possessed some intelligence. Seeing You Shahu kill demons relentlessly, its eyes rolled cunningly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

It stomped forward heavily.

Wherever it passed, humans and demons alike were sent flying. Walls and houses crumbled as if mere paper.

With a furious momentum, it soon stood before You Shahu and casually slapped its giant paw.

Boom!

You Shahu hastily raised his fists to block but felt his arms twist, bones shattering. He was flung backward, crashing into a house which collapsed with a roar.

Struggling to stand among the rubble, he spat a mouthful of blood, his whole body wracked with pain, unable to continue fighting.

“A sixth-level demon beast! Gang leader You, I’m here to help!”

A middle-aged man whose true energy was fully refined rushed up, wielding a silver blade, charging at the bear demon.

The silver blade shimmered, its edge detaching like light.

This was clearly a martial artist above the Bone Forging level.

But in the next instant, a dull boom sounded.

The bear demon’s form suddenly blurred, transforming into a phantom that shot forward.

In a flash, the middle-aged man spat blood, his body bending and twisting in agony.

He hadn’t blocked a single strike.

You Shahu grimaced, gritted his teeth, and stepped forward.

The giant bear stomped relentlessly toward him, each claw swipe reaping a life.

You Shahu’s fury surged, and despite his twisted arm, he gritted his teeth and charged the beast.

Yet…

Boom!

He saw only shadows flicker, then felt searing pain in his chest once more.

Another house collapsed.

Struggling to stand again, his ears ringing, he looked around at the brutal carnage—countless figures flying backward, blood spraying everywhere.

Not far off, the giant bear seemed to wear a mocking smile, steadily advancing.

With each step and casual swipe, someone fell dead.

The great bear appeared to be toying with You Shahu, not rushing the kill but leisurely stepping forward.

You Shahu coughed incessantly, blood flowing from his mouth. His arm was twisted and useless; he could no longer throw a punch, only despairingly watch the massacre unfold.

At that moment, whether an illusion or reality, he thought he heard the sound of hooves approaching.

Following that came the crackling roar of thunder.

In a daze, You Shahu’s eyes widened. Amidst swirling dust under the clear daylight, blue lightning branched across the sky.

In an instant, the blue lightning spread across the battlefield where they fought to the death.

Ssssh!

The giant bear near him suddenly halted amid the lightning.

Whoosh!

Its massive head was lifted into the air, a fountain of blood erupting.

The bear’s huge body collapsed with a thunderous crash, sending up clouds of dust.