Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter 759 Catastrophe (Part 8)

"Being silent for too long... isn't good... It's time to stir things up... let them know... who... is the true overlord of Yunzhou! Who... is the holy land of martial arts!! Who... will have the last laugh!!!"

Within the Yuanmiao Sect, the immense and shocking sound slowly dissipated.

Yuan Miaozong and his entourage were left standing there, both surprised and delighted.

Yuanmiao Sect has kept a low profile for far too long, so long that everyone thought the tiger had lost its claws, the eagle had its wings bent, and the whale king had its fins broken.

After such a long period of silence, it's time to let the world witness it.

What is a hegemon?

……………

"Speaking of that battle, it was truly a fierce and turbulent one, with dark clouds changing color and the sky dimming... The person in the middle of the crowd struck out with a palm, and it was like flying sand and stones, and a torrential downpour..."

Not only did the heads of the three major families collapse, coughing up blood, but even the hundreds of experts who participated in the attack were shaken by the aftershocks before they even got close, suffering severe internal injuries and fleeing in panic. The power of a single palm strike was terrifying indeed…

The storyteller waved his fan, shook his head, and spoke on the stage, spitting everywhere.

"You're bragging! It's one thing for one person to be able to fight off three family heads, but with hundreds of people, just spitting at them could drown a person!"

Among the listeners who were listening to the storyteller's boasting and rambling, someone couldn't help but refute him.

Huayang City, Xiangfu Restaurant.

These martial arts masters who travel and escort goods usually have nowhere else to go and little money in their pockets to enjoy themselves.

At most, it's just a chance to rest and listen to storytellers recount strange tales, which can be a bit of fun.

"Hmph! You're obviously from out of town!" the storyteller said disdainfully. "Do you even know who that person is? You don't even know their name, strength, or cultivation level, yet you're spouting nonsense here? I was there when it happened that day; I saw it with my own eyes."

"Then tell me, who is this person? I, Man Sandao, have practiced martial arts for over thirty years and have never heard of such a person!" This man was clearly a man who had lived a life of danger and had a bad temper.

"Do you know the Seven Wonders of Yunzhou?" The storyteller cupped his hands towards the sky. "These seven are all highly skilled cultivators, extraordinary and beyond the ordinary. Each one of them is a powerful expert who can rival an entire army!"

"The Seven Wonders of Yunzhou?" The impetuous man was taken aback.

"Truly a brute who's turned his brain into muscles from practicing martial arts..." The storyteller curled his lip. "These seven are: Compassionate Hand Master Yuanjue, Flesh Dragon Hong Jiaojiao, Thousand Hands Xu Feihong, Spirit-Piercing Sword Zhao Ying, Beast Emperor Han Yi, Yin-Yang Poison Wen Huang, and Shadowy Clouds Mu Piaomiao..."

These seven individuals refer to those who have mastered the art of palm strikes, saber techniques, swordsmanship, hidden weapons, beast taming, poison techniques, and movement techniques to the highest degree, achieving unparalleled skill and extraordinary talent… Of course…

"Wait, hold on!" The burly man felt something was amiss as he listened and asked, "Master Yuanjue, Hong Jiaojiao, and Xu Feihong are the three old-school Yunzhou experts, renowned for a long time and with great prestige. It is only natural that they are among the Seven Greats."

As for Zhao Ying, who led the Heavenly Sword Sect to rise to prominence, he was also a standout, on par with Hong Jiaojiao... Wen Huang and Mu Piaomiao have also made frequent appearances recently, shining brightly as well.

But... this Han Yi... why is he ranked among the Seven Greats? I know him; he's just a young upstart, and I've heard he's been constantly hunted down. In terms of status, seniority, and strength, how could he possibly be ranked like this? Just because he's a local from Huayang?"

As soon as he finished speaking, many people in the inn burst into laughter, a roar of laughter filling the room. "It's said that this Man Sandao only knows how to kill people, and is indifferent to everything else. He claims to be keeping his mind free of distractions and cultivating his sword intent, but I think... he's just stupid, outdated, and stubborn..."

"Indeed, looking at it this way, the rumors are indeed true..."

Even the storyteller laughed: "Your information needs to be updated. The government troops took a dislike to you during their recent reforms and said they would arrest you and take you away immediately. Why have they suddenly disappeared and stopped doing anything?"

Why did Sect Leader Han and the three great families of Huayang have such a conflict? Do you know the reason? It was all because of Sect Leader Han's revenge. In broad daylight, he stormed into the garrison camp and set fire to the general's residence… These actions forced the three great families to intervene. But even so, they couldn't do anything to him.

"I heard that the three major families deliberately released the people and didn't really fight..." someone muttered quietly from the side.

"That's because they didn't dare to get serious!!" The storyteller flicked his fan. "In the battle of Black Miasma Mountain, the four great masters of the government army—Du Ye with the Wave-Turning Hand, Zhou Zhicheng with the Selfless, Qiao Xiu with the Cold Beauty, and Zhao Xunyang with the Golden Light Blazing Sun Fist—were all famous and infamous. The four of them led a team of several thousand people into the mountain to besiege the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, but what was the result?"

He paused here, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below the stage.

The group's eyes lit up as they listened intently.

When these people drink and boast, they like to listen to gossip stories as a snack, drinking one cup after another.

"Died without illness!" the storyteller slowly uttered the four words.

"In the end... the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect is still the same Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. Of the four great masters of the General's Army, how many have returned? It's true that the cold beauty Qiao Xiu returned, but that very night, Han Yi broke into the General's Mansion, broke her limbs, and forcibly took her away! Who dared to stop him? No one could stop him."

Not to mention the three major families, even the commander of the imperial army, Lord Fan Hongchou, mysteriously disappeared after participating in the siege of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect in Black Miasma Mountain. Whether he is alive or dead, no one knows.

However, judging from the recent actions of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, which has been launching frenzied attacks and retaliations against many strongholds with which they had previous grudges... I'm afraid... the fate of our Lord Fan...”

He didn't finish what he wanted to say.

However, the meaning is clear and straightforward.

They disappeared for more than ten days in a row, and even after their subordinates and confidants were captured and their strongholds were breached, they still did not make any move or react.

That's enough to determine the truth of the matter.

"It was precisely because of these events that the reforms, which had sparked much discussion shortly after their implementation, came to a standstill. As a result, Han Yi's reputation also rose, and he was hailed as the number one expert in Huayang!"

The storyteller spoke eloquently.

"Man Sandao, such a person... do you think he doesn't count as one of the Seven Great Masters of Yunzhou? If it weren't for the many reclusive masters of Yuanmiao Sect, this ranking... I think it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the number one master in Yunzhou!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire inn and restaurant fell silent.

The storyteller seemed to hold Han Yi, the current leader of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, in high esteem in his words.

"Alright, everyone, I have some detailed inside information about Han Yi here. Would you like to buy a copy and take a look? His life, appearance, and personality are all recorded in it, and it has been personally confirmed by the head of the Demon Hunting Association."

For just one tael of silver! One tael of silver won't break the bank. It will give you a deep understanding of the character and temperament of the number one expert in Huayang. We're all from Huayang, so if we ever run into each other, having this guide will save you from being foolish and messing with someone you shouldn't, only to end up with your head rolling...”

"Have some!"

Five servings, please!

"Don't try to take it from me, I'll take the rest..."

Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately began shouting and clamoring, offering silver in exchange for the booklet. However, the storyteller's fervent praise…

It seems the only goal is to sell the pamphlets in hand for a good price...

They sold out quickly.

"Huayang...the number one expert?! What a prestigious title!" In a corner of the inn, several gray-clad men wearing straw hats sat in front of a table of food.

They ate and drank quickly, and spoke quietly, clearly unwilling to reveal their identities.

There are quite a few people like this in this inn that mainly caters to people from the martial arts world.

After all, we're all just ordinary folks, and it's inevitable that we'll make some enemies.

Concealing one's identity as a form of protection is understandable.

but…...

One of them was unusually large; even the largest clothes, big enough to fit two normal adult men, looked tight on him.

"Eat your food and don't cause trouble! There are many hidden talents in Yunzhou. If we attract the attention of others, any one of them could make our lives miserable!" An elderly man scolded in a low voice.

“But this name… sounds a bit like someone we know…” the woman said, her voice tinged with doubt.

A name that the storyteller mentioned repeatedly caught her attention.

"Perhaps it's just a coincidence of names. There are plenty of such things in the world," the old man replied casually. "Having finally escaped Longping Prefecture, we should think about how to settle down in Yunzhou."

"This is easy..." the fat man, whose clothes were bulging and almost bursting, laughed. "Sister Jiu'er... let me tell you..."

*Sizzle...*

He had barely shifted his body slightly when the threads of his clothes immediately came undone, revealing his rather unsightly red underwear.

"Fatty Zheng!!" the woman's angry voice rang out immediately.

"Don't blame me... I've lost so much weight, it's just that these clothes are too small..." Fatty Zheng said aggrievedly.

Among these people were several old acquaintances of Han Yi.

Zheng Pangzi, Elder Huang Ze, and Huang Jiu'er from the Demon Hunting Association.

"I have a few colleagues in the Demon Hunting Association who work in Yunzhou. Once I get in touch with them, I can at least find them a stable job!" Fatty Zheng promised, patting his chest, ignoring his ripped clothes.

"You can make the arrangements... That's fine too..." Huang Ze sighed, "After running around for so long, I can finally rest for a while."

Although the territory of Pingzhou was ravaged by demonic calamities, it was not a desolate place devoid of life.

In some areas, numerous anti-demon alliances still exist, uniting to launch occasional counterattacks against the demons. In addition, many powerful individuals have traveled from afar to Pingzhou to provide support, and the government has provided substantial supplies.

In fact, this kind of guerrilla warfare would be waged.

The Pingzhou Anti-Demon Alliance has already gained the upper hand.

After all, no matter how many demons there are in Pingzhou, they are just a source without roots, without follow-up or supplies. If one of them dies, then there will be one less forever.

In the long run, the advantage still lies with the human race.

But recently, things seem to have changed.

As if they had found a source of manpower, the demon army launched a fierce attack on several large allied strongholds without regard for casualties.

Caught off guard.

The allied forces that Zheng Pangzi and Huang Ze belonged to were scattered, and a group of people fled for their lives in all directions.

We arrived in the safe and peaceful Yunzhou.

Only then could they truly breathe a sigh of relief. "If I were ten years older... I would have had the chance to advance to the next level... and I wouldn't have let Xiuxiu die so tragically in front of me..." Recalling the tragedies that had occurred more than ten days ago, a trace of grief flashed across Huang Ze's face.

The demonic calamity brought disaster to Pingzhou, but at the same time, it also brought many opportunities to the martial artists of Pingzhou.

Under the overwhelming pressure of the demon army, the anti-demon alliance united as one, with strong individuals from all directions sharing their knowledge and actively helping others resolve their doubts.

In principle, these traditions should be passed down orally from master to disciple, and should not be easily passed on to outsiders.

However, in the face of a calamity like the Demonic Disaster, openness, sharing, and transparency became the mainstream of Pingzhou martial arts.

In addition, there are various resources provided as if they were free.

The injuries that had plagued Huang Ze for years were fundamentally resolved, and he even broke through the Martial Master level in martial arts, becoming a true Grandmaster. However, faced with the endless demonic army, the tide of attacks washed over him like a tidal wave. No matter how strong a Grandmaster is, one person's strength is insufficient.

Huang Xiuxiu simply vanished amidst the demon army's offensive.

“Father… I can’t blame you… I believe that Sister Xiuxiu in heaven wouldn’t want to see you so dejected…” Huang Jiu’er’s eyes also reddened as she softly comforted him.

She was originally Huang Ze's biological daughter.

However, because Huang Ze had offended several powerful enemies in his youth, she pretended to be his maid to avoid being implicated.

Of course, the demon army has been wreaking havoc for so long.

Huang Ze's strength has also broken through to the Grandmaster level, and the so-called great enemy... has become a joke.

Huang Jiu'er naturally no longer needed to hide her identity.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, let's go." Fatty Zheng stood up. "The past is useless except for causing sadness, so let's not bring it up again. When we get to Yunzhou, we'll have to start all over again." He tossed down a few silver ingots, and the group quietly left.

……………

Huayang City, Huahu Villa.

The lake appeared even more tranquil in the light rain.

The pattering raindrops pattered on the lakeside pavilion, creating a soft, rustling sound.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect already had few disciples, and after several unexpected deaths and injuries, the number of people became even smaller.

Inside the vast Flower Lake Villa, only a few disciples, looking tired, occasionally came and went.