Urban Demon Refining System

"Dear citizens, we are issuing an urgent notice. Due to the flu, some residents of our city have contracted the disease. All major hospitals in the city are now full. Experts urge everyone to keep indoor spaces well-ventilated..." The T City TV station kept broadcasting this news. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, more than a thousand people have been infected, and the number is still rising.

"Influenza! How could the flu break out at this time!" Qin Xuren frowned upon hearing the secret report. It was not the peak season for the flu, and such a large-scale epidemic caught everyone off guard.

"Elder Qin! The demon-revealing mirror is not reacting at all, ruling out the possibility of demons causing trouble!" the secretary said immediately.

"Could this really just be a common viral flu?" Old Qin stood up from his chair and paced back and forth in the room. "Didn't we monitor a lot of centipedes crawling out of the mountains a while ago? Could it be them..."

"Old Qin, all those centipedes disappeared the day before yesterday!" The secretary's report was clearly well-prepared, and he spoke without hesitation.

"They've all disappeared?" Old Qin was taken aback. "How could they all disappear?"

"This issue is under investigation. Based on current evidence, it appears to be related to the energy fluctuations from a battle two days ago." The secretary produced a set of colorful photos. According to the energy fluctuation meter, a massive energy eruption occurred on Wuji Ridge, and preliminary assessments indicate that a battle involving beings at the Demon King level or higher was taking place!

"Demon King!" Elder Qin asked impatiently, "Wuji Ridge has always been on the edge of our territory. Have you figured out the situation there?"

"We can now confirm that there are two demon kings!" The secretary pulled out two more photos and handed them over. "These two demon kings appeared not long ago, and the information was provided by the young lady's student!"

"Are these the Yellow Wind Monster and Spider Demon that Xiao Chuan mentioned?" Old Qin picked up the photo and examined it. "By the way, didn't he also mention a guy who called himself the Many-Eyed Taoist? Why isn't there any information about him?"

"This multi-eyed Taoist priest is mysterious, and we haven't gathered any information about him yet. However, it's said that he lives in a place called Huanghua Temple, and our people have already conducted a thorough search of all the Taoist temples in the city!"

"Huanghua Temple?" Old Qin repeated the place name. "Any news from Xiao Chuan and the others about their trip to Wuji Ridge?"

"Not yet," the secretary shook her head. "They haven't sent any messages for two days!"

"What? Why didn't you say so sooner!" Old Qin was immediately agitated. "There's still no news?"

"Mr. Qin..." The secretary hesitated for a moment, "Miss Xiao Mo went to Wuji Ridge without your knowledge yesterday..."

"Nonsense!" Old Qin roared, "Why didn't you stop her!"

"Her white fox is too powerful, we...we can't stop it!" the secretary whispered. They weren't players and couldn't effectively intercept Xiao Mo.

"White Fox?" Old Qin's face showed a hint of helplessness. "That's right, with that little one's abilities, you really can't stop her! Never mind, this was my mistake!" He waved his hand. "Send someone to keep a close eye on her, just in case anything happens!"

"We've already arranged for someone to go there!" the secretary said quickly.

"That's good! These kids are such a worry!" Old Qin rubbed his swollen forehead. Ever since the Nine-Headed Insect incident, T City has been in constant turmoil, with one thing after another happening.

"Is there still no news from Xiao Yang?" Old Qin asked, as if he had just remembered something.

"Not yet! There are people keeping an eye on Bibo Pool, and I will report to you immediately as soon as I have any news!"

"No need! Withdraw all personnel from there and devote all our efforts to investigating this plague. Although it's not caused by demons, I'm still a little uneasy. We must find out the truth!"

"Yes!" The secretary wrote down everything he said.

"Alright, you can go now!" Old Qin waved his hand, his voice sounding somewhat tired. "Remember to let me know as soon as possible if there's any news!"

The secretary tactfully withdrew, gently closing the door behind him. As soon as he turned around, he was startled to find a pair of cold eyes staring intently at him!

"Um, Your Majesty, what brings you here? You weren't resting in your room!" The secretary forced a smile. "Come, let me take you back!"

"I want to see Qin Xu!" the King of Wuji Kingdom said, his voice devoid of any emotion.

"Old Master Qin is already resting, so it's best if we don't disturb him!" the secretary said with a smile. He had always treated this ancient man from a thousand years ago as a mental patient.

"I want to see Qin Xu!" The King of Wuji Kingdom kept repeating this sentence.

"Your Majesty, Elder Qin is now..." The secretary still had a smile on his face, but he was getting a little impatient. Why was this guy so annoying!

"Young Master! Please invite His Majesty the King in!" At this moment, Old Master Qin's voice came from inside the house.

"Yes!" The secretary had no choice but to open the door again. "Your Majesty, please!"

"Young Master, you may leave now. I need to speak with His Majesty the King alone!"

"Yes!" The secretary bowed and took his leave, glancing at the King of Wuji Kingdom as he went, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, what brings you here?" Old Qin poured him a glass of water and handed it to him.

"It's about this plague." The King of Wuji Kingdom didn't stand on ceremony and took the water, drinking it all in one gulp.

"Plague? You're saying this flu is a plague?"

"I don't know when the flu will start, but this plague has appeared in my kingdom before!"

"It appeared in your kingdom? More than a thousand years ago?"

“That’s right. Back then, nearly half of my people were infected with this plague, and even my third prince died from it.” A trace of sorrow flashed in the king’s eyes. “The physicians of the whole country were helpless against this plague, and the people in the palace were in a state of panic. Just then, the Minister of Astronomy told me that this was a divine wrath and advised me to offer sacrifices to the heavens to alleviate the epidemic!”

The behavior of the King of Wuji Kingdom seems ridiculous to modern people, but it is the most realistic portrayal of that era. When human power is powerless, one can only entrust one's fate to the gods.

"And then what happened? Was the epidemic brought under control?" Old Qin asked.

"No." The king shook his head. "The sacrificial ceremony lasted for seven whole days, and the plague not only did not subside, but even began to spread within the palace. Every day, corpses were carried out of the palace!"

The King of Wuji Kingdom said to himself, "The sacrificial ceremony to Heaven caused me to lose the support of the people. Just then, a wandering Taoist priest came to my door and told me that he had a way to solve the plague! With his help, the epidemic was quickly brought under control."

"Oh? There are actually such experts!" Old Qin exclaimed curiously.

"What kind of expert? Just a monster! He's the one who caused this plague!" the King of Wuji Kingdom said through gritted teeth.