I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 223 - 163: The Preeminent Talent of the Current Generation in Qifeng Prefecture! [Second Release!]

Chapter 223: Chapter 163: The Preeminent Talent of the Current Generation in Qifeng Prefecture! [Second Release!]

This battle had been agreed upon ten days ago, with the news spreading in all directions.

People from all over had traveled long distances, heading towards High Willow City.

At this moment, many were still delayed on the road, not having arrived yet.

However, contrary to expectations of a fierce and boiling battle lasting three hundred rounds, with the Little Divine Sect emerging victorious, such a scene did not occur.

Wu Chang stepped forward and with one slash defeated the Little Divine Sect.

After a fair fight, he struck the Little Divine Sect another twenty-three times.

This news, in an instant, spread throughout High Willow City and through various channels to the outside world, reaching all quarters.

The Little Divine Sect was defeated!

Wu Chang won!

From today forward, the name of Qifeng Prefecture’s foremost prodigy ought to change!

——

At this moment, Deputy City Governor Shi looked down expressionlessly.

"Is this Wu Chang’s response to me?"

"Exactly as you said."

"Indeed arrogant!"

Deputy City Governor Shi snorted coldly and swept away.

A general beside him leaned closer and whispered, "Do you have any orders?"

Deputy City Governor Shi indifferently said, "This old man will stay in High Willow City for another ten days, just watch him, no need to take action."

"Why can’t we take action?" the general asked.

"If I don’t strike, can you kill Wu Chang?" Deputy City Governor Shi slowly said, "Xu Dingye was touted as the foremost person of this era and also vaguely had a reputation of being invincible within the Refining Essence Realm... Defeated by Wu Chang today, with such a vast gap, don’t you see it?"

"You suspect that he very likely has entered the Qi Refinement Realm?"

"Regardless of whether he is in the Qi Refinement Realm, such a heavenly prodigy can rival Li Shen Sect."

Deputy City Governor Shi glanced back and slowly said, "After today, at least half of the old stubborn members among the Human Clan’s upper echelons will want to protect him!"

"Wu Chang killed my two sons, estranged the Shi Family’s descendants, the whole world knows, in High Willow City, countless people are watching me at this very moment!"

"Now is not the right time to strike."

Deputy City Governor Shi walked forward.

The general, following by his side, whispered, "Have you heard? There are not a few in High Willow City who regard him as a thorn in their side."

"That was before." Deputy City Governor Shi said calmly.

"So we just bitterly wait for an opportunity?" the general whispered, "Our Qifeng Prefecture’s major affairs will be delayed..."

"Wait until the Lord of Residual Prison Mansion leaves." Deputy City Governor Shi said gravely and slowly, "He has been listed among the ’Ten Directions’, and across Qifeng Prefecture, those who qualify to confront him are less than the number of fingers on one hand!"

"He will protect Wu Chang too?" The general gasped.

"His arrival in High Willow City was to avoid the battle between Wu Chang and Xu Dingye escalating to irreparable loss of life." Deputy City Governor Shi slowly said, "He came to prevent the two great prodigies of the Human Clan from killing each other... How could he allow even more outstanding Wu Chang to be killed here?"

"When will he leave?"

"I don’t know..."

"What about Xu Dingye’s Cloud Thunder Sword?"

"With Wu Chang now his mortal enemy, there’s no need to completely fall out with the Li Shen Sect lineage anymore."

Deputy City Governor Shi indifferently said, "Furthermore, Xu Dingye’s incompetence stops him from beheading Wu Chang, so you can’t blame him."

——

Within the inner city.

The Lord of Residual Prison Mansion gently stroked his beard and smiled, "Although this battle was brief, it was indeed a splendid one."

He reflected, saying, "A new generation replaces the old, the young ones surpass the likes of me in my prime!"

"You flatter me, Lord."

Great City Guard laughed heartily and stroked his beard, saying, "Thanks to the protection of Liu Venerate God’s light, High Willow City has produced a Li Shen Sect, which is indeed fortunate!"

The Lord of Residual Prison Mansion somberly said, "Li Shen Sect started his practice a bit late, at his age, he hadn’t entered the Qi Refinement Realm."

Instantly, the atmosphere became tense for a moment.

Then the Great City Guard spoke with a laugh, "Looking back three hundred years, Qifeng Prefecture has only produced a Li Shen Sect! Unexpectedly, just decades later, a Wu Chang has emerged..."

The Lord of Residual Prison Mansion stopped in his tracks and then earnestly said, "Although this youth did not utilize True Qi, he has certainly surpassed the realm of Refining Essence... If High Willow City cannot bear such a person, I can take him with me to the Residual Prison Mansion."

"High Willow City may not be elevated, but with Liu Venerate here, it can bear him."

Great City Guard slightly stroked his beard and said, "My Lord, let’s not think of taking High Willow City’s greatest prodigy to the Residual Prison Mansion, however..."

"I’ve taken Xu Dingye."

The Lord of Residual Prison Mansion nodded slightly and paused before adding, "Before I leave, please arrange, discreetly, for me to meet Mr. Lu one more time."

Great City Guard nodded, "Understood!"

——

Meanwhile, at the Observatory Headquarters.

The Commander was counting one silver note after another, couldn’t help but reveal a smile.

"You are flouting the law knowingly," said the nameless old man, poking his head out and clucking his tongue, "If I were not already a dead man, I’d really like to report you."

"A dying man, making this little money to provide a nest egg for the next Commander of the Observatory, am I not having a hard time?" the Commander sighed.

"This duel has stirred up a huge momentum and captured attention from all directions; the stage is already set..." The elder spoke solemnly, "The Lord of Residual Prison Mansion is currently residing in High Willow City, but he will leave in less than three days, making the subsequent situation quite troublesome..."

"Leveraging the momentum of this battle, it will be easier to expand the city next."

Commander paused, saying, "That Deputy City Governor Shi will not make a move for now, but the people from Tribulation Ash are unpredictable..."

He pondered, then said, "Tonight, I’m going to meet with the high-ranking figures of various forces within High Willow City!"

"For Wu Chang?"

"Indeed!"

"You do regard him highly!"

"After today’s battle, who doesn’t regard him highly?"

The Commander spoke softly, "Some regard him and think of nurturing him... while others, thinking of strangling him... Tonight, I must probe the situation."

"Aren’t you going to arrange someone to protect Wu Chang tonight?"

"The City Guard Mansion also wouldn’t want to see the finest young man in the history of High Willow City get killed on the first night of his fame."

"You’re entrusting Wu Chang’s safety to the City Guard Mansion? I thought you’d have me protect him secretly..."

"You, too, are busy tonight," the old man responded.

"Oh? With what?"

"Han Zheng’s heir has defeated the heir of the Li Shen Sect! His generation lost, but the next one won, erasing the permanent scars and nightmares of defeat to Li Shen Sect."

"Just this one battle allowed Han Zheng to enter the Qi Refinement Realm?"

"Since Mr. Lu returned to the city, whom do you think he has seen the most?"

"That old man living in the south district, it is certainly Han Zheng whom he sees most often."

"Mr. Lu gives Han Zheng a Spirit Talisman every few days, do you think it has no effect?"

The Commander spoke in low tones, "Providing Mr. Lu with precious materials for half a year cost me two thousand silver taels; otherwise... do you think I, the great Commander, would resort to secretly borrowing money and gambling unscrupulously to win such disgraceful money?"

"Do you value Han Zheng so highly?"

"After my death, there will naturally be a Deputy Commander to replace me, but for the future vacancy of Deputy Commander, there is no suitable candidate other than Han Zheng."

"You’ve been preparing for the situation after your death half a year ago?"

"Four years ago, I knew that this path of Qi Refinement was wrong..." the Commander slowly said, "From that time, I’ve been preparing to stabilize various situations after my death."

"It must be tough for you," the nameless elder sighed.

"Since the establishment of High Willow City Sky Observation Bureau, I have been the first Zhao Ye person!"

The Commander stood with his hands behind his back, his expression solemn as he slowly said, "To stabilize humanity, secure the Human Clan, plan for peace, and create a prosperous era; I would not regret even a hundred deaths!"

——

Linjiang Square.

Lin Yan took a bath, changed his clothes, and placed a bag of silver taels at home.

Then, bypassing his brother and sister-in-law, he headed to Mr. Lu’s residence.

Mr. Lu was the only one in the courtyard.

Lin Yan couldn’t help looking around in surprise and asked, "Why is Lv Tang not here?"

"I don’t know."

Mr. Lu shook his head slightly and extended his hand.

Lin Yan reached into his robe, pulled out a few Phoenix Blood Ancient Jade pieces, and placed them on the desk.

This time, agreeing to face the challenge inside the city, he obtained twelve pieces of Phoenix Blood Ancient Jade.

This was provided by Deputy City Governor Shi to facilitate the success of this battle and was handed over to High Willow City.

Previously, he had borrowed Phoenix Blood Ancient Jade from Mr. Lu for the temple priest of Wutong Temple and the Commander of the Guard.

These pieces of Phoenix Blood Ancient Jade were meant to be returned.

"I thought you would end him," Mr. Lu suddenly spoke.

"The Lord of Residual Prison Mansion was there above, wasn’t he here to prevent ’deaths’?" Lin Yan laughed, saying, "Mr. Lu, you’ve hinted several times before, and you didn’t want me to kill him either."

"This world is sustained by all people of the Human Clan, not by a single person’s bravery and valor! Even someone as powerful as the Li Shen Sect cannot protect the Prefecture City with his own strength alone!"

Mr. Lu stood up, slowly stating, "You two are the youngest and most remarkable men of the current Qifeng Prefecture; you could die in the darkness, but you should not die at each other’s hands."

"If Xu Dingye came here intending to kill you, it would be a matter of life and death, and I would not intervene."

"But he came without malice."

After a pause, Mr. Lu calmly said, "He came to defeat you, and you defeating him was enough."

Lin Yan remained composed and nodded, "Xu Dingye has resisted evil numerous times in the past and has credited many achievements. His temperament is decent, he hasn’t committed any atrocities, and he has prospects of reaching the Qi Refinement Realm... So, I didn’t kill him."

"But those twenty-three strikes you delivered dismantled his momentum."

Mr. Lu whispered, "His Refining Essence Realm has reached its limit; he had hoped to pursue the direction of transforming Essence into Qi... Your twenty-three strikes will delay him for at least five years."

——

Qifeng Prefecture City.

Inside the city, at the military garrison headquarters.

"Great General, news of the battle in High Willow City has arrived," a general hurriedly reported.

"Seeing you in such a panic, it seems Xu Dingye has lost."

A calm voice came from inside, saying, "Bring the letter here, let me see it myself."