I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 122 - 98 The Guardian of the Human Clan, also a Potential Calamity_2

Chapter 122: Chapter 98 The Guardian of the Human Clan, also a Potential Calamity_2

"In any case, be polite to him, it can only be beneficial and harmless!"

"Get to know him better, and when we reach High Willow City, let’s first mention this Flag Commander and secure some connections, that will make it easier to speak in front of Han Commander."

At this point, Pei Xiong tapped the young man beside him and said, "You youngsters, learn something from this!"

——

Lin Yan rode his horse, his thoughts quite complex.

The garrison commander was already sixty-seven years old, considered an elder.

Initially, Lin Yan thought maybe he was a person from Tribulation Ash, then he guessed he was driven by greed to kill his companions, stealing the silver taels, medicinal materials, elixir pills, weapons, and other items being transported to High Willow City.

But at this moment, that Inspection Envoy and Li City’s General Flag Envoy Pei Xiong, both were convinced that it was due to the pitfalls of ancient techniques.

"Ancient techniques..."

Lin Yan sighed.

Once, in this world, the peak of the Martial Artists was the Inner Strength Realm.

Later, under the threat of treacherous nights, generations of ancestors from the Human Clan paved a way with their lives, enabling future Martial Artists to master magic methods beyond the limits of human strength, achieving power above the pinnacle of Inner Strength.

The path of the Refining Essence Realm today is already considered perfected.

But in much earlier times, it was filled with pitfalls.

The Demon Transformation Technique was one such ancient technique.

Even among the ancient techniques, the Demon Transformation Technique wasn’t the most dangerous one.

Although the martial cultivation methods of today have been perfected and are promoted within various cities,

for those of the Human Clan who were displaced outside the cities, living in the Pure Land, the Demon Transformation Technique and the Worshiping Evil Method still form the basis of their survival.

"This garrison commander, belonging to an older generation, practiced the ancient techniques,"

"From this, we can infer that although the martial cultivation methods were initially refined, they had not yet truly spread widely."

"And those Martial Artists who practiced the ancient techniques, once they deviate into madness, they become a tremendous danger."

Lin Yan thought to himself, "But before this, they were still pivotal pillars of the Human Clan against evil forces."

The older generation of cultivators of the ancient techniques had also fought fiercely in the darkness for the survival of the Human Clan!

Just like the Worshiping Evil Method, it was once one of the most important cultivation methods for defending the Human Clan.

A hundred and twenty years after the founding of High Willow City, in the first sixty years, those who cultivated the Worshiping Evil Method were still one of High Willow City’s forces against evil forces.

It was just sixty years ago, because the "Worshiping Evil Method" went out of control on a large scale, causing turmoil that led to its cultivation method being strictly banned in High Willow City and even in all six cities within Qifeng Prefecture.

"The pitfall of practicing ancient techniques is just too unstable, prone to loss of control, causing massive chaos."

That was what Lin Yan thought, which reminded him of Yuan Tongye, the Great Commander of the Left City Guard Army.

His one strand of True Qi was hidden within his body.

Ultimately, it was eliminated by the Demon Suppression Divine Power.

According to Lin Yan’s understanding, being eliminated by the Demon Suppression Divine Power only proved that it belonged to the category of evil and alien energy.

Moreover, the girl had previously mentioned that the detailed division of realms within the Refining Essence Realm was because the Refining Essence Realm had been perfected.

Yet, the Qi Refinement Realm still harbored great dangers.

The ancestors of this era, who cultivated in the darkness, endured immense responsibilities and dangers while progressing.

They are the pivotal pillars guarding the Human Clan, the mainstay force against the dark, and also a considerable threat to the survival of the Human Clan.

"The Qi Refinement Realm is not yet perfected..."

Lin Yan inwardly thought, "And the path of my Refining Essence Realm is nearly at its end, about to step into that realm as well..."

He felt somewhat depressed and rode his horse to the location indicated on the terrain map.

Here indeed was a band of bandits who, around three months ago, had swarmed in from the southwest, committing twelve cases.

There were a total of six people, including four Martial Artists and two Cultivators.

The leader, with the highest cultivation, had even undergone marrow cleansing, the second major threshold in martial arts, and was already in the latter half.

However, this leader, over fifty years old, had no hope of reaching Inner Strength in this lifetime.

"Hm?"

Lin Yan stopped his horse, gazing into the distance.

This band of bandits seemed to be preparing to move, to roam elsewhere.

Hearing the leader’s shouting and the sound of a conversation discussing recent events,

Lin Yan listened for a while, then felt irritable and instantly rode away.

"Instead of listening to them, why not go up and ask?"

Whoosh!

The men had not yet arrived, but the crossbow arrow struck first.

An arrow pierced the forehead of the Cultivator.

"Enemy attack!"

"From where do they come?"

"Quick, take cover!"

The voices resounded one after another.

Soon, a figure approached, riding a horse and wielding a single blade.

"It’s the Flag Commander of the Observatory, and he’s alone!"

The leader immediately steadied his stance and shouted, "Together, let’s kill him!"

Typically, Flag Commanders must at least reach the second level of martial arts to hold such a position.

However, some Flag Commanders have reached the Inner Strength Realm.

Seeing the approaching Flag Commander on horseback, who appeared young and likely of lower cultivation,

Four Martial Artists believed they had a chance to overcome him!

With many years of unspoken understanding and a history of violence and robbery, they immediately charged forward.

Then, one of them had his head cleaved off.

Two others suddenly had their arms severed, their hands still gripping their swords.

A loud thud!

Lin Yan dismounted, kicked over the bandit leader, and pointed his blade at the man’s face.

"Gentlemen, there’s no need to be nervous; I mainly want to ask a few questions,"

Lin Yan said calmly, "I kindly ask you friends to enlighten me."

——

This group of bandits actually came from outside Qifeng Prefecture, having provoked a significant figure and thus fled here, roaming into Qifeng Prefecture.

Because of the Cultivator, at first, they didn’t hide in the Pure Land but relied on the Qi Mechanism of the Evil Spirit to conceal themselves in secluded mountains.

Later, realizing the coast was clear, they began looting passing merchant convoys.

Major powers like the Fengyi Trading Company were usually off-limits for them.

Of course, even large trading companies sometimes had to enter different Pure Lands in groups.

Occasionally, they would seek opportunities to rob smaller groups of people.

"We usually handle our operations cleanly, but still, we could not deceive High Willow City nearby..."

The Cultivator said in a low voice, his face a mixture of emotions, "Half a month ago, our boss also went to Linjiang Square in High Willow City and picked up some information."

Lin Yan heard this and looked at the leader.

The leader hung his head in dejection and sighed, "We thought our small actions wouldn’t be enough to provoke High Willow City to send troops a hundred li away to exterminate us... but unexpectedly, our luck turned sour. Recently, there’s been an increase in groups stealing business around us."

Lin Yan continued to inquire and discovered some misunderstandings.

Initially, the City Guard Mansion was formulating a detailed plan to eliminate all bandits.

The designated day was five days hence, under the leadership of Yuan Tongye and his Left City Guard Army.

Just a moment ago, upon discovering these bandits relocating, Lin Yan thought it was a leak.

But it turned out to be today’s Left City Guard Army, making a big show to capture the assassin who attempted to murder the city commander, Wang Yuan, causing the scramblings among these bandits.

"Actually, we haven’t committed many offenses; it’s just that somehow, things keep getting falsely attributed to us... We can’t clarify things by going to High Willow City ourselves," the bandit leader said, slightly distressed.

"Clarify what? You didn’t kill a hundred people, only eighty?"

Lin Yan’s expression turned cold, and he kicked the man in the face.

Then everyone saw the Flag Commander raise his blade and point it at them: "The weather is not bad today, and I am willing to spare one life."

Behind me this morning, a group of the Observatory’s men were killed, and their possessions were taken away."

"There’s plenty of stuff, and the noise wasn’t minor. Whoever tells me the whereabouts of that batch, will get to keep his life."

Before Lin Yan’s voice had even fallen, the Cultivator suddenly cried out, "It was Jinliu Manor!"

"Oh?"

Lin Yan’s gaze turned stern, his heart slightly shook, thinking, "Ten years ago, under the full support of Qifeng Prefecture City, wasn’t that the new land that Liu Venerate Temple went to clear?"