I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 712 - 409: Five Mountains Dragon Capture Suppresses the Demon Tiger!_2

Chapter 712: Chapter 409: Five Mountains Dragon Capture Suppresses the Demon Tiger!_2

But unexpectedly, the issues within Mountain King Manor have already persisted for so long.

The position of the Manor Master in Mountain King Manor is held for a term of ten years.

The Demon Suppression Department’s Colonel, however, serves for three years per term.

This means that two generations of manor masters and at least six generations of Demon Suppression Department colonels have passed.

To be precise, it should be seven generations.

The current Colonel Lu’s term has not yet reached three years.

Calculating carefully, the Demon Suppression Department Colonel from eighteen years ago would have been nearing the end of their term.

"The matter of live sacrifices, I’ve heard, was not initially demanded by the Mountain Lord."

The elder Manor Master abandoned his blade, his right hand brushing over his severed left shoulder to stop the bleeding, and continued speaking: "Eighteen years ago, there was a woman in the manor who had an affair. Amidst the rumors and gossip, her husband hacked the adulterer to death with a hatchet. At the time, the Demon Suppression Department Colonel sentenced him to death."

"According to usual practice, the offender’s head should be severed, and their corpse offered to the temple as tribute to the Mountain Lord."

"But that Colonel instead delivered a living person to the temple."

"For many years, the Mountain Lord only consumed those offered in death. Yet one day, having tasted a live sacrifice, the desire began to stir within him."

"In the eyes of the Evil, humanity has always been the most delectable cuisine in existence. Moreover, it significantly boosts their cultivation and enhances their Tao."

"It’s easy to go from frugality to indulgence, but difficult to go from indulgence back to frugality. Over the years, the Mountain Lord suppressed his desire for human flesh, but once he indulged, he could no longer resist."

"Thus, the Mountain Lord struck a pact with the Demon Suppression Colonel, forming an alliance. On the same night, they captured the previous Manor Master alive, coercing him into submission through threats and enticements."

"From that point on, Mountain King Manor secretly replaced death sacrifices with live ones, deceiving the heavens and crossing the seas."

"And the Mountain Lord did not leave them unrewarded, granting them extraordinary opportunities."

The elder with the severed arm paused briefly, sighing as he said: "Truth be told, I was forced into it..."

Lin Yan remained silent, quietly watching him.

The elder with the severed arm spoke in a low voice: "When I succeeded to the position of Manor Master, the previous Manor Master and the current Demon Suppression Colonel suddenly launched a surprise attack, with the Mountain Lord suppressing me as well."

He remarked helplessly, "Had I not compromised, I would have ended up like Colonel Lu."

"A mere moment of coercion cannot sustain control over these many years!"

Lin Yan slowly said: "Temptation is indeed more enduring, driving you to serve the Mountain Lord so wholeheartedly..."

"I am, after all, advancing in age. Without a breakthrough, when my term at Mountain King Manor concludes, all I’ll face is retirement—in essence, I’m just waiting for death!"

The elder with the severed arm spoke gravely: "If fortune smiles on me, perhaps I could live out my days naturally... But if luck falters, I might lose control and turn into a Physical Body Evil."

"Should my fate be even worse, I’d have to go fight the Evil before dying."

"To put it nicely, it would be making the final contribution to the Human Clan; to put it plainly, it’s being sent to die, seeking mutual destruction with a Great Demon."

"The Mountain Lord granted me opportunities, with the hope that before my tenure ends, I can cultivate my Primordial Spirit to perfection."

"There’s also a method to extend life, which offers great hope—if I can succeed in reaching the Creation Realm before death, my lifespan can be prolonged."

"To exchange the lives of some insignificant and powerless members of the Human Clan for the chance of birthing a Creation God from our ranks—is such a trade not worthwhile?"

"If you’re willing to show mercy to me, the matter of Mountain King Manor will rot away entirely before long."

The elder with the severed arm looked at Lin Yan with eyes full of longing, speaking quietly: "As long as you show leniency, no one will ever know what I’ve done in the future! And should I miraculously enter the Creation Realm, I’ll devote myself to serving the Human Clan with the strength of a God Lord, fending off the Evil..."

Lin Yan responded blandly: "Just like your predecessor Manor Master and those Demon Suppression Colonels before you?"

The elder with the severed arm sighed and said: "The previous Manor Master, upon retiring, had reached the Peak of the Refining God Realm, surpassing a century’s worth of diligent cultivation within merely ten years. Unfortunately, he ultimately failed in Creation and met his death."

"As for the Demon Suppression Colonel from eighteen years ago, after leaving here, his cultivation advanced rapidly, and he slew countless Evil entities."

"In less than two decades, he rose successively to the positions of Hundred Households, Thousand Households, and garrison commander, eventually becoming the Supreme Commander of a large city. Furthermore, three years ago, he accomplished a great feat on behalf of the Human Clan and was promoted to the Main Hall of the Demon Suppression Department."

"All the Demon Suppression Colonels who have served at Mountain King Manor were appointments made by this significant figure, and each one of them achieved outstanding futures after leaving Mountain King Manor."

"After leaving here, they were all able to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to slaying Evil, protecting their domains, and shielding the Human Clan."

The elder with the severed arm spoke with a subdued tone: "A small Mountain King Manor, with just a slight sacrifice, can cultivate numerous formidable warriors—this is worthwhile."

Lin Yan remained silent, then asked: "You claimed the Demon Suppression Colonels were all confidants of this significant figure—what about Colonel Lu?"

"He’s considered an accident."

The elder with the severed arm continued: "Three years ago, that significant figure was promoted to the Demon Suppression Department’s Main Hall and directly transferred to the Holy Alliance for cultivation! Officially, he’s no longer responsible for appointing Colonels at Mountain King Manor. Furthermore, due to his long journey to the Holy Alliance, certain accidents occurred in his private arrangements. By sheer coincidence, the accomplished Colonel Lu ended up replacing the originally predetermined candidate and coming to this Mountain King Manor."

At this point, Lin Yan understood everything.

Colonel Lu was an upright Martial Artist!

Having arrived here as a newcomer, he was caught off guard and ambushed, leaving him no time to send out an alert or request for reinforcements.

But his indomitable spirit held firm, leading to his eventual fate of being devoured by the Mountain Lord.

Afterward, he became a Chang Ghost, unaware of his death, wandering aimlessly, and acting according to the Mountain Lord’s predetermined plans.

With the collaborative concealment of this Manor Master, the Mountain Lord, and even the higher-ups of the Demon Suppression Department, everything seemed normal on the surface.

"The Mountain Lord has not yet arrived."

Lin Yan looked into the distance and said: "But my questions are nearly answered."