Demon Cultivators were running rampant, leaving the Independent Cultivators of Longwu Marketplace in a state of constant peril. They had either gone into hiding or fled into marketplaces defended by Arrays. This, ironically, had caused the marketplace to beco crowded and bustling, giving it an air of prosperity.
But a closer look revealed that most of the Cultivators wore expressions of misery. So were even dressed in mourning clothes, having lost loved ones to the Demon Cultivators.
Yang Jing used the Inconstant Illusionary Form Technique to alter his appearance and conceal his Cultivation, transforming into a suave, dashing young master dressed in brocade robes.
His four disciples also changed their appearances. Yinjiao, whose mastery of the Inconstant Illusionary Form Technique was the highest, transford directly into a young man dressed as an Honored Guest Elder. Iron Head, anwhile, perford a Bone Stretching technique to beco a steward.
As for Chi Yu and Ji Feng, whose skill with the Illusion Technique was the lowest, they rely changed their outer appearances, dressing as a young page and a maiden.
With Demon Cultivators on the loose, he had deliberately adopted the guise of a fat sheep to see if he could bait a few undiscerning Demon Cultivators.
He had only taken a single stroll among the stalls of the Independent Cultivators before attracting nurous covetous gazes. However, they were all from ordinary Tribulation Cultivators, not Demon Cultivators.
Yang Jing raised an eyebrow.
According to the records in the official dispatches, Yan Gao’s third major cri had been committed here in Longwu Marketplace. He had ambushed the Demon Suppression Army outside the marketplace, killing a Yu Hou at the Foundation Establishnt Stage and seven soldiers at the Qi Cultivation Stage.
Since appearing in the Northern Domain, he had already killed three Yu Hou in a row.
The reason Yang Jing had rushed to Longwu Marketplace was because out of all of Yan Gao’s major cris, this was the only one with no survivors. Furthermore, its location was nearly twelve hundred li away from his previous cri scene at Qian De Marketplace.
It made him sense that sothing was amiss.
The Demon Suppression Army fought Demon Cultivators year-round and was highly experienced; they were not just a group with high Cultivation and nothing else. Even if Yan Gao was a True Disciple of the Profound Sun Demon Sect, it would have been exceedingly difficult for him to kill every last mber of the Demon Suppression Army, leaving no survivors.
And the facts supported this. Yang Jing had reviewed all the casualty reports for the Demon Suppression Army in the dispatches, and only three tis had an entire unit been wiped out with no survivors.
To successfully ambush and kill every last soldier of the Demon Suppression Army here, there was a high probability he had assistance from a local bully. ’Did Yan Gao rush to Longwu Marketplace just to kill one Yu Hou and a few soldiers? Is it possible they discovered sothing and were silenced for it?’
Yang Jing was not sure if this local bully was a Demon Cultivator or a local Immortal Cultivation Clan.
If it was a Demon Cultivator, that would be manageable. He had already purged the Demon Cultivators in the Liao Kingdom once. Those who had taken advantage of the chaos in the Northern Domain Seven Kingdoms to return to Liao were nothing more than rootless drifters, their only advantage being their familiarity with the local geography.
But if a local Immortal Cultivation Clan was secretly colluding with him, then the situation would beco far more troubleso.
If Yan Gao had the support of a Cultivation Clan’s Grand Array and its Cultivators, he would instantly beco a hundred tis more difficult to deal with.
As Yang Jing was pondering this, he suddenly looked up into the distance. He saw several streaks of Tunneling Light circling back and forth outside the marketplace, as if searching for sothing.
He tossed a Spirit Stone onto the stall in front of him.
"Who are those people? Why are they patrolling outside the marketplace?"
The Independent Cultivator running the stall hurriedly picked up the Spirit Stone, blew on it, and then tucked it into his Storage Bag.
Seeing Yang Jing’s extraordinary bearing, the man was satisfied with the single Spirit Stone and did not dare try to extort more. He honestly relayed what he knew:
"Those are Cultivators from the nearby Wei Family, a Foundation Establishnt Clan. Rumor has it that the Wei Family’s Patriarch lost a treasure, so they’ve been searching outside the marketplace for the past half-month, trying to find the thief. Sotis they even co into the marketplace to search. They’ve overturned my stall several tis."
A sharp glint flashed in Yang Jing’s eyes.
"Has anything major happened around here in the last half-month or so?"
"If you’re asking about major events, it has to be the ambush of the Demon Suppression Army," the Independent Cultivator running the stall said. "That caused a huge stir. Afterward, the Demon Suppression Army sent a Flying Boat to hunt down that fiend, Yan Gao. It was the first ti I’d ever seen so many soldiers from the Demon Suppression Army."
"It’s all because of that damned Demon Patrol Envoy. He’s a glory hound who went around slaughtering Demon Cultivators recklessly. And look what happened! He stirred up a hornet’s nest, and now who knows how many of their own Demon Suppression Army soldiers have died because of it."
Yang Jing placed a hand on a fuming Chi Yu, who had already clenched her small fists.
"Yes, that Demon Patrol Envoy really made a huge ss of things and then just ran off. The Northern Domain has fallen into complete chaos," he added in agreent.
The Independent Cultivator imdiately began to nod vigorously:
"Exactly! Those Foundation Establishnt Clans are fine. They can hide in their clan estates without ever setting foot outside. As long as they activate their Grand Array, the Demon Cultivators can’t do a thing to them. But it’s miserable for us Independent Cultivators. If a Demon Cultivator finds our Cave Mansion, we’re trapped with no way out, left with no choice but to stretch out our necks and await slaughter. Those of us with a bit of savings can at least hide in the marketplace. The poor ones can only take their families and dig holes to hide themselves."
Under Yang Jing’s skillful guidance, the Independent Cultivator quickly poured out his grievances, recounting many of the recent events in Longwu Marketplace.
Yang Jing gave the Independent Cultivator another Spirit Stone before standing up and leaving with his disciples.
"Master, is sothing wrong?" Iron Head asked, scratching his head.
Yang Jing glanced at Yinjiao, signaling for him to explain to his senior brother.
Yinjiao cleared his throat and said:
"With Demon Cultivators running rampant, all the clans are guarding their gates, terrified that a True Disciple from a Demon Sect might find a weakness and bring about their death and the extermination of their clan. Yet the Wei Family dares to send out large numbers of their disciples at a ti like this to search for so so-called lost treasure. They show no fear of their clan lands being attacked or their disciples abroad being ambushed and killed. What kind of priceless treasure could possibly be worth risking the annihilation of their entire clan?"
Yang Jing nodded.
"Furthermore, most cultivators are selfish. Even within the Demon Suppression Army, you’ll inevitably find cowards who shy away from battle. For these Wei Family disciples to be flying around so brazenly, exposing themselves while Demon Cultivators are on the loose... they’re a little too fearless, aren’t they?"
"Unless they know the Demon Cultivators won’t attack them at all," Yang Jing said, watching the Wei Family Cultivators flying in the sky.
He was eighty percent certain that the Wei Family was colluding with Yan Gao.
"Master, should we make a move?" Yinjiao asked, looking at the streaks of Tunneling Light in the sky.
"These clan disciples usually have Soul Tokens left behind in their clan lands. We’ll wait for them on their way back, disguise ourselves as Demon Cultivators, and capture a few for interrogation," Yang Jing said, his expression cold.
’The reason Yan Gao rushed to Longwu Marketplace might have been to help the Wei Family silence soone.’
"The reason they’re risking exposure to search the area around the marketplace is probably because there’s a witness or so piece of evidence out there. We have to intercept it."
"Master, should we contact the marketplace’s Steward?" Yinjiao asked with so concern.
After all, the Wei Family was a great local clan with deep roots.
"No, I already have a plan. Besides, even if the Steward of Longwu Marketplace is reliable, the Law Enforcent Team and Wenshu certainly are not. That squad from the Demon Suppression Army that died at Yan Gao’s hands is a perfect cautionary tale."
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