Surviving in a world of demons and monsters to achieve martial arts sainthood

Luoxia Mountain.

Shen Lian, Li Hu, and Chen Yun waited by the stream for a full incense stick's time before Gu Qingfeng finally came out carrying a medicine basket.

"Senior." Shen Lian bowed to Gu Qingfeng.

Gu Qingfeng nodded, took out the oil paper from the medicine basket, and wrapped the Seven-Leaf Crimson Flame Grass. The seven leaves were already crimson, which was a sign of maturity.

He said, "The Seven-Leaf Crimson Flame Grass has been harvested. This grass needs to be soaked in morning dew for twelve hours before it can be used as medicine; otherwise, its medicinal properties will be too strong and damage the meridians."

Chen Yun glanced at the sky: "It takes three hours to get back to Qinghe County from here. If we wait until tomorrow morning when it gets wet, won't we be delayed by a whole day?"

Gu Qingfeng handed the package to Shen Lian: "Since I have agreed to save people, I have my own arrangements. Qingquanjian, five miles outside Qinghe County, can be used to soak the herbs in dew for six hours before they can be used as medicine."

Li Hu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Shall we set off immediately?"

Gu Qingfeng sat down on a rock by the stream: "Rest here for half an hour first. You've been traveling all day, so adjust your condition before you continue."

Shen Lian sat down cross-legged and began practicing the "Tiger Subduing Stance" technique.

He closed his eyes and looked inward, discovering that the fifth acupoint was showing signs of loosening. If he could break through to the sixth level, his combat power would undoubtedly increase significantly.

Gu Qingfeng looked at Li Hu and asked, "Do you have any fragments of the demon stone on you?"

Li Hu nodded, then took out a cloth bag containing the fragments he had found at Shi Yong's house in the fishing village.

The fragments are bluish-black in color and have scaly patterns on their surface.

Gu Qingfeng took the fragment from Li Hu, gently tracing the patterns on it with his fingers, and examined it carefully: "It really is the aura of a water demon, but unfortunately the aura is too mixed, it's not something worth mentioning."

"Senior, have you ever seen anything truly crafted from water demons?" Li Hu asked.

Gu Qingfeng nodded and said, "Fifty years ago, when I was traveling in the southern border region, I saw something similar at an outpost of the Witchcraft Cult. At that time, they were just a small sect, and their refining techniques were crude. Now it seems that not only have their skills improved, but their ambitions have also swelled considerably. They even dare to attempt to seize the Yu King's Cauldron and flood Qingzhou."

Li Hu and Chen Yun were shocked upon hearing this.

Half an hour later, the four set off.

Although Gu Qingfeng was over sixty years old, his steps were more steady than those of Shen Lian and the other two.

[Combat Strength]: 80~95

Shen Lian quietly activated the [Combat Power Detection] to examine Gu Qingfeng's combat power data. The opponent's strength was not weak, reaching the level of the seventh heaven.

Upon arriving at the foot of the mountain, Shen Lian and his two companions retrieved the horses they had stored there.

Chen Yun gave her horse to Gu Qingfeng and rode on the same horse as Shen Lian.

The four of them sped along the road toward Qinghe County.

At dusk.

Shen Lian and his group arrived at Qingquanjian, which was less than five miles from Qinghe County. Two mountains stood facing each other on either side, and a clear spring flowed down from the rock wall, gathering into a deep pool at the bottom of the valley, with water vapor rising above the surface.

Gu Qingfeng carefully took out the Seven-Leaf Crimson Flame Grass and placed it on the blue stone by the pool. He explained, "The dew will condense tomorrow at dawn, and then we can use it."

Shen Lian looked around: "Senior, do you need guards?"

Gu Qingfeng shook his head, then sat down to the side and said, "I will guard the medicine here. The three of you can take turns resting."

Chen Yun and Li Hu found a cave and gathered some dry firewood to start a fire.

Shen Lian sat cross-legged on a boulder to regulate his breathing. Since the battle on Jiangxin Island, although he had taken the "Bone Forging and Muscle Regeneration Pill" and recovered 70-80% of his injuries, he had been busy investigating and had not had the opportunity to meditate.

Li Hu added a few more pieces of firewood to the fire and couldn't help but ask, "Do you think the 'Witchcraft Cult' might track us down here?"

Chen Yun shook her head and said, "The location of 'Clear Spring Stream' is very hidden. There is absolutely no way that the people of the 'Witchcraft Cult' could find this place."

Li Hu nodded emphatically and looked in the direction where Shen Lian was.

At this moment, Shen Lian was still cultivating.

The night passed quickly.

The morning sun rises.

A ray of morning light shone into the "Clear Spring Stream," and Gu Qingfeng, who was sitting cross-legged on the blue stone, slowly opened his eyes. He turned his head to look at the Seven-Leaf Crimson Flame Grass beside him.

After being nourished by the spring water overnight, the Seven-Leaf Crimson Flame Herb has enough medicinal power to be used to remove the Heart-Eating Gu from Jiang Han's body.

Gu Qingfeng took out a jade box and carefully put the Seven-Leaf Crimson Flame Grass into it to prevent the medicinal power of the Crimson Flame Grass from being lost.

Shen Lian also got up at this time. After a night of recuperation, the flow of qi and blood in his body became smoother.

The four men immediately mounted their horses and galloped along the official road.

……

Qinghe County, Demon Suppression Division.

The crowd gathered in the council hall. Zhao Shan, the chief officer, stood in front of the long table, with Su Qing, the Silver Seal Envoy of Qingzhou Prefecture, and Tie Shan sitting on either side, and the other Demon Suppression Envoys sitting below.

During this period, almost the entire Demon Suppression Division was mobilized to search all the locations marked on the map.

Aside from killing the viper at "Dragon-Slaying Cliff," no other discoveries were made.

Silver Badge Envoy Jiang Han was ambushed by the Viper during his battle with it, resulting in the "Heart-Eating Gu" entering his body, and he is now in critical condition.

Su Qing tapped her fingers lightly on the table: "The 'Witchcraft Cult' reacted too quickly; all the people from the other strongholds have been evacuated."

Tieshan frowned and said, "I'm afraid they received the news a long time ago, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to leave so quickly."

"I estimate that the 'Witchcraft Cult' won't make any moves anytime soon," Zhao Shan said after a moment's thought. "I wonder how Jiang Yinzhang is doing?"

Su Qing sighed and said, "We're temporarily suppressing it with the 'Blazing Sun Pill,' and there's nothing seriously wrong for now. However, the Gu poison flared up again yesterday at noon. If Gu Qingfeng doesn't arrive soon, given Jiang Han's current condition, he probably won't last more than two days."

Sun Yan suddenly appeared at the entrance of the council hall.

"Commander, Shen Lian and the others have returned, and they have brought Senior Gu Qingfeng with them," Sun Yan said, slightly out of breath.

"Please come quickly!"

Zhao Shan and the others were all invigorated.

After waiting for so long, we finally got to see Gu Qingfeng.

In a short while, Shen Lian, Gu Qingfeng, and the others appeared in the council hall.

Zhao Shan clasped his hands in greeting to Gu Qingfeng, saying, "I am Zhao Shan, the commander of Qinghe County. I greet Senior Gu Qingfeng."

Gu Qingfeng raised his hand to indicate, "I already know the whole story. Without further ado, take me to see what's going on."

"Alright!" Zhao Shan nodded. "Senior, please follow me."

Soon, the group arrived outside the west wing.

Demon-suppressing envoys stood solemnly on both sides of the corridor. Zhao Shan pushed open the door, and a chilling aura rushed out. There was a charcoal brazier inside, but the temperature did not change at all.

Jiang Han lay on the bed, his face pale and ashen, his lips purplish-black, and something wriggling under the skin of his chest.

It was the Heart-Eating Gu that was causing the trouble.

Gu Qingfeng walked straight to the bedside, placed his right hand on Jiang Han's wrist, closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment: "The poison has invaded the heart meridian. If it is delayed by another day, even divine intervention will be difficult to save him."

Zhao Shan asked in a deep voice, "Mr. Gu, are you confident?"

Gu Qingfeng said, "I can only do my best. Where is the 'Millennium Cold Jade Marrow'? I need it to assist the Seven-Leaf Crimson Flame Grass."

Su Qing handed a jade bottle to Gu Qingfeng. Inside was the 'Millennial Cold Jade Marrow', and the bottle exuded a chilling aura.

Gu Qingfeng nodded slightly, placed the 'Millennial Cold Jade Marrow' and the Seven-Leaf Crimson Flame Grass on the table, and then took out thirty-six silver needles.

He looked up at Zhao Shan and the others and said, "I am about to administer acupuncture, so please step back a few paces."

Everyone understood Gu Qingfeng's meaning and retreated to the back.

Gu Qingfeng took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and picked up the first silver needle with his right hand. With a slight flick of his wrist, the silver needle transformed into a streak of light, precisely piercing Jiang Han's Tanzhong acupoint. The needle's tail trembled slightly, emitting a low hum.

Then came the second and third injections...

Gu Qingfeng's movements were fluid and graceful. Thirty-six silver needles were inserted into Jiang Han's vital acupoints in sequence, forming a mysterious star chart formation on his body. When the last needle pierced his brow, all the silver needles trembled simultaneously, and a pale golden halo spread from the needle's tip, counteracting the black lines beneath Jiang Han's skin.

The next moment, Gu Qingfeng opened the jade bottle containing the 'Millennial Cold Jade Marrow', and the milky white marrow liquid dripped down, landing on the ends of the thirty-six silver needles in turn.

This continues for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Sweat beaded on Gu Qingfeng's forehead. His expression was grave, and he dared not be careless in the slightest. Suddenly, he pressed his palms together and softly uttered, "Nine Yang Rejuvenation, the Gu poison is completely dispelled!"

Suddenly, the thirty-six silver needles shone brightly with golden light, and Jiang Han's body trembled violently. He suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of black blood.

The black blood began to writhe wildly as it landed. Gu Qingfeng reacted quickly, taking a leaf of the Seven-Leaf Crimson Flame Grass and throwing it onto the blood. The black blood instantly turned into green smoke and dissipated.

Jiang Han's complexion gradually turned rosy, and the rise and fall of his chest became more stable.

Gu Qingfeng then slowly withdrew the needles, each one accompanied by wisps of black energy as it was pulled out, which he then wrapped in blazing sun sand and burned.

"The poison has been eliminated, but the heart meridian is damaged, requiring half a month of rest." Gu Qingfeng wiped the silver needles and put them into his pouch. "Take ginseng soup daily for gentle nourishment, and remember not to use violence."

Zhao Shan breathed a sigh of relief, clasped his hands in a deep bow, and said, "Mr. Gu, the Demon Suppression Division will forever remember your life-saving grace."

Gu Qingfeng waved his hand and said, "Fifty years ago, I trusted a spy from the Witchcraft Cult, which led to the leak of the Nine Yang Rejuvenating Acupuncture Technique, which was then used to create the vicious 'Heart-Eating Gu'. Saving people today is also a way of atoning for my sins."

The 'Heart-Eating Gu' in Jiang Han's body has been completely eliminated. He only needs to rest for a period of time to fully recover.

Su Qing and Tie Shan breathed a sigh of relief. They had been ordered to come to Qinghe County to investigate a case, and it would be a real loss if Jiang Han were to be lost as a result.

Having dealt with the Gu worms on Jiang Han's body, Gu Qingfeng did not linger at the Demon Suppression Division. He asked for a horse and left.

……

The next day!

Su Qing and Tie Shan found Zhao Shan in the council hall of the Demon Suppression Division.

"Are you two leaving Qinghe County?" Zhao Shan asked, somewhat surprised.

Su Qing nodded slightly and said, "Now that all the 'Witchcraft Cult' strongholds in Qinghe County have been wiped out, I believe Commander Zhao can handle the remaining remnants. Jiang Han is currently injured and will need some time to recover, so we plan to take him back to Qingzhou."

Zhao Shan nodded and said, "That's good. I'm very grateful for the help of the three Silver Badge Envoys. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know what to do in Qinghe County."

Tieshan laughed and said, "We're all from the Demon Suppression Division, there's no need to be so polite about such a small matter. It's just a pity that we couldn't have a proper fight with those bastards from the 'Witchcraft Cult'."

Zhao Shan continued, "Shen Lian, Chen Yun, and Lin Feng have passed the 'New Talent Competition' and are also heading to Qingzhou Prefecture. We would like to ask the two Silver Badge Envoys to take them with them to Qingzhou and look after them."

Su Qing nodded slightly: "Of course."

Soon, Shen Lian and his two companions received the news.

In order to reach Qingzhou faster, Su Qing and the others planned to travel by boat, and Shen Lian and the other two also went along.

Qinghe County Wharf.

Several fast boats, shrouded in the black aura of the Demon Suppression Bureau, were moored at the shore, and the boatmen carried the last few boxes of supplies onto the deck.

Shen Lian stood on the dock, looking towards Qinghe County.

Having lived in Qinghe County for so long, he is now about to head to Qingzhou, and he doesn't know when he will have the chance to come back again.

"Brother Lian, it's time to get on the boat," Li Hu reminded him.

Shen Lian nodded and looked at Li Hu: "Hu Zi, you still have a chance even though you couldn't go to Qingzhou this time."

"I understand. I will cultivate diligently and strive to reach Qingzhou as soon as possible," Li Hu said solemnly.

Shen Lian turned and boarded the ship.

"Senior Brother Shen."

Chen Yun's voice came from the ship's side. Today she was dressed in a light gray outfit, her long hair was tied in a high ponytail, and she had a sword at her waist, exuding a heroic aura.

Lin Feng had already boarded the ship, leaning against the side with his arms wrapped around his sword.

On the deck, Su Qing and Tie Shan had been waiting for a long time, while Jiang Han was resting in the cabin due to his injuries.

Seeing that Shen Lian and the other two had boarded the ship, Su Qing signaled to set sail.

The surface of the Qinglong River glistens.

The boat broke through the water and sped forward.

Shen Lian stood at the bow of the boat, the river breeze brushing against his sleeves, the sword at his waist swaying with the rise and fall of the boat. He turned his head to look at Qinghe County, which was getting farther and farther away.

"What are you thinking about?" Chen Yun asked with a light laugh.

Shen Lian shrugged and said, "It's nothing, I just feel that things are changing too fast. We have to go to Qingzhou so soon."

Chen Yun, holding onto the gunwale, said, "Lord Jiang Han once said that the world never waits for people to be ready. All we can do is try our best to keep up."

Shen Lian nodded slightly.

Chen Yun looked at Shen Lian and asked, "Senior Brother Shen, how are your injuries?"

"I'm almost fully recovered." Shen Lian stretched his right shoulder. "The 'Bone Forging and Muscle Regeneration Pill' that Commander Zhao gave me is quite effective. However, to say I'm fully recovered, I still need to recuperate for a few more days. These things can't be rushed."

As the two were talking, a commotion came from inside the cabin.

Tieshan helped Jiang Han out. Jiang Han's face was still a little pale, but he was much better than when he was in Qinghe County.

Su Qing followed behind, carrying a bowl of medicinal soup.

"Why is Lord Jiang out here?" Shen Lian asked as he stepped forward.

"I'm so tired from lying down." Jiang Han coughed twice and sat down on the wooden bench at the bow of the boat. "The river breeze is actually quite comfortable."

Su Qing handed over the medicine bowl and reminded him, "Senior Gu instructed that it should be taken three times a day, without fail."

Jiang Han took the medicine bowl, shook his head with a wry smile: "This medicine is even harder to endure than the Gu poison."

Even so, he tilted his head back and drank the medicine in one gulp.

He then looked at Shen Lian and said, "Shen Lian, I heard that you won the championship in the 'New Talent Competition' and stole the limelight from Chu Chunqiu."

"Just lucky!" Shen Lian laughed.

Chu Chunqiu's strength far surpasses his; in a one-on-one fight, he is no match for Chu Chunqiu at all.

Jiang Han said, "But no matter what, Chu Chunqiu failed to win the championship. You stole his thunder, and I'm afraid he won't let it go so easily."

"I understand!" Shen Lian nodded.

After entering the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division, you will inevitably have to deal with Chu Chunqiu. However, Chu Chunqiu, a scion of a powerful family, is often arrogant and difficult to get along with.