Chapter 342: Chapter 136: Strength Determines Horizon (Vote for Monthly Pass)
Mountain-Breaking City.
The Demon-Subduing Division was now shrouded in an atmosphere of worry and misery, with a heavy look on everyone’s face.
It was no wonder. The three major Demon-Subduing Divisions had confidently waged war against the Myriad Buddhas Sect. In the end, they were disastrously defeated at the hands of Shimohe.
This incident was a dual blow to the spirit and flesh of the people at the Demon-Subduing Division.
Following the battle, many Demon Hunters were killed or seriously injured, with an even greater number sustaining wounds.
Ever since the establishment of the Demon-Subduing Division, aside from waging war against Demon Evils, they had never encountered such a crushing defeat against the forces of the Jianghu.
"Alas!"
Jiang Zuo heaved a heavy sigh.
When the Mountain-Breaking City Demon-Subduing Division went to war with the Myriad Buddhas Sect, he too had gone out to battle. However, the number of strong figures within those sects was truly staggering. Within the Myriad Buddhas Sect alone, there were Grandmaster Peak warriors. As for those below the peak, the number of Grandmasters was not small at all. The number of powerful individuals dispatched by the other sects was not as great as that of the Myriad Buddhas Sect, but when over thirty sects united, the scale was terrifying.
Not to mention, there was Shimohe, the top-tier powerhouse, overseeing it all.
At the beginning, the Demon-Subduing Division had a great advantage. But as Ji Tianlu and the others were defeated, all advantages vanished in an instant.
Defeat became an inevitable outcome.
Even now, recalling the earlier battle still sent a chill through Jiang Zuo’s heart.
Too strong! Ordinary Grandmaster Martial Artists could make little impact in such a fight. Only those in the late stages of the Grandmaster realm had some capability to contend. The ones truly capable of preserving themselves and changing the situation in such battles were only those at Grandmaster Peak and above.
What kind of strength touched upon what kind of realm. Before breaking through to Grandmaster, I thought that after advancing, I could be more carefree. Even when facing powerful enemies, I believed I’d at least have the ability to save my own life. But now, after a few battles, I’ve shockingly discovered that Grandmasters are just slightly larger ants. After I advanced to Grandmaster, the enemies I encountered also became much stronger. It’s as though the enemies I face are always stronger than me. After advancing, reflecting on all my battle experiences, I feel a sense of unbearable recollection.
He shook his head helplessly. He looked at the current state of the Demon-Subduing Division, his thoughts drifting far away.
I wonder what kind of response the Capital City will have. And moreover, I don’t know where Brother Shen is now!
Jiang Zuo thought of the Capital Demon Suppression Division and also of Shen Changqing. After arriving at the Mountain-Breaking City Demon-Subduing Division, he had not seen Shen Changqing again. However, in the South Nether Prefecture, legends of Shen Changqing constantly circulated. Gradually, Jiang Zuo gained a deeper understanding of Shen Changqing’s strength.
Grandmaster Ultimate Summit. More powerful than a typical Defender Envoy. Considering the current situation in Mountain-Breaking City, he felt, Ji Tianlu would likely ask Shen Changqing to return. However, these were just my own conjectures. The specifics are not for me, a mere Earth Rank Demon Hunter, to manage. Even with the status of Steward of the Huang Department’s Demon Hunting Court, it’s of no use. Such a status holds some weight in the Capital Demon Suppression Division. Elsewhere, it’s of no significant use.
While Jiang Zuo was lost in thought, a familiar voice suddenly reached his ears.
"Brother Jiang!"
Upon hearing this, he turned his head and saw a familiar face.
"Brother Shen!?"
Seeing the person before him, Jiang Zuo had the strange feeling of being worlds apart.
The person is the same, but his reputation is no longer what it used to be.
Shen Changqing, looking at the bewildered Jiang Zuo, couldn’t help but smile. "Brother Jiang, are you surprised to see me?"
"Haha, who wouldn’t be surprised to see Brother Shen now? Speaking of which, you must be quite renowned throughout the South Nether Prefecture by now!" Jiang Zuo also laughed.
Even though I’m not as accomplished as Shen Changqing, seeing him doesn’t make me feel inferior or unable to converse. After all, I’m also a genius. It’s just that he’s an even greater one.
"It’s just an empty title," Shen Changqing shook his head. Then, he looked Jiang Zuo over seriously, his expression shifting slightly. "You’re injured?"
Jiang Zuo revealed a bitter smile. "Don’t laugh, Brother Shen, but I was outmatched when facing a Grandmaster of the Myriad Buddhas Sect and was struck by his palm. Fortunately, it wasn’t too serious, and I believe a period of rest will see me recover."
Being defeated by another Grandmaster is, to me, a deeply embarrassing matter. If possible, I’d rather not let a second person know.
After speaking, he looked toward Tiankui, a creature the size of a small calf, his eyebrows raising slightly. "What kind of beast is this? It looks rather extraordinary!"
Compared to before, Tiankui had grown a lot; the two fleshy lumps on its back were especially more noticeable. Its once cute and silly appearance had vanished, replaced by the nascent majesty of a Fierce Beast.
Shen Changqing said, "This Fierce Beast is called Tiankui. Brother Jiang, don’t underestimate it. If Tiankui were to fully mature, it would be no weaker than a Grandmaster Peak expert."
"No weaker than a Grandmaster Peak expert!" Hearing this, Jiang Zuo couldn’t help but gasp.
I myself am only a Grandmaster and haven’t even stepped into the middle stages. Looking again at this Fierce Beast, the thought of it growing to rival a Grandmaster Peak expert is daunting.
For a moment, this genius of the Demon-Subduing Division felt a storm of emotions.
Even I, confident as I am, cannot be sure that I’ll definitely become a Grandmaster Peak expert in the future. Compared to Tiankui, the gap seems so stark.
Shen Changqing approached Jiang Zuo and rested his palm on Jiang Zuo’s shoulder.
"Brother Shen..." Jiang Zuo started to speak but suddenly felt a warm current flow from his shoulder, instantly spreading throughout his limbs and torso. He dared not say more. Hurriedly, he closed his eyes and began to mobilize his own energy to absorb this warm current bit by bit.
A quarter of an hour later, Shen Changqing withdrew his hand. The warm current vanished.
Jiang Zuo’s body trembled slightly. When he opened his eyes again, his vitality had fully returned to its peak.
"Thank you for your help, Brother Shen!" he said, clasping his fists in gratitude.
Just now, all my lingering injuries were completely healed. Without his help, it would have taken me one or two months to recover from such injuries with my own strength.
Shen Changqing smiled faintly. "It was nothing. Brother Jiang, go attend to your matters. I still need to meet with a few Defenders."
"Alright." Jiang Zuo nodded.
He also understood that with Shen Changqing’s current status and prestige, his sudden return to the Demon-Subduing Division surely wasn’t without reason.
「 」
Inside the grand hall, Ji Tianlu and Xun Qu were both seated. Ji Tianlu’s complexion was frighteningly pale, while Xun Qu’s face was as gloomy as still water. When Shen Changqing entered, Xun Qu’s expression finally eased slightly.
"Elder Shen has arrived."
"Defender Ji, Defender Xun!" Shen Changqing also nodded in greeting.
Xun Qu pointed to an empty seat. "Please take a seat, Elder Shen."
"Thank you." Shen Changqing cupped his fists and took the empty seat.
After he had sat down, Xun Qu sighed. "We had no choice but to ask you to return this time, Elder Shen. I hope you don’t take offense."
Hearing this, Shen Changqing said, "I am a member of the Demon-Subduing Division. Now that the Division is in trouble, I cannot sit idly by. Defender Xun, your words are too grave." He paused, then looked towards Ji Tianlu, whose complexion was alarmingly pale. "How are your injuries, Defender Ji? I heard you were severely wounded by Shimohe. Is his strength truly that formidable?"
As he spoke, a clear look of doubt appeared on Shen Changqing’s face.
It’s not as if I haven’t fought Shimohe before. Back in the Exiled Immortal Valley, although the strength he displayed was indeed formidable, to say it was enough to severely injure three Defender Envoys seems like an exaggeration.
Ji Tianlu smiled self-deprecatingly, a touch of color returning to his pale face. "It’s no shame to admit it, Elder Shen. Shimohe’s strength has reached an extremely terrifying level. From my observations, if he hasn’t reached a level comparable to a Great Demon, he’s certainly not far from it. This time, we underestimated our enemy. We didn’t expect someone who has broken their limits to be so powerful."
We had thought Shimohe’s capabilities were, at most, comparable to an ordinary high-level Demon Evil, not much stronger than an average King Rank Defender Envoy. But unexpectedly, not only was he incredibly powerful, but he far exceeded our imagination. In the battle against the Myriad Buddhas Sect, the Demon-Subduing Division was crushed effortlessly. The leaders of the three major Demon-Subduing Divisions were suppressed by him alone. Only now do I truly understand just how terrifying that expert from eight hundred years ago truly is. The fact that he could live for eight hundred years truly shows he has something extraordinary.
After he finished speaking, Xun Qu added, "I suspect the strength Shimohe displayed in the Exiled Immortal Valley wasn’t his true power. Otherwise, none of us would have left there alive that day. He had just emerged from the Heavenly Realm, so his strength must have been restricted in some way. We never thought that would lead us to underestimate him."
A large part of why we underestimated Shimohe was the power he exhibited during the battle in the Exiled Immortal Valley. That power, though strong, wasn’t so overwhelming that it couldn’t be confronted even with the full might of the South Nether Prefecture. And that, ultimately, sowed the seeds of our defeat.
Shen Changqing said, "The Mountain-Breaking City Demon-Subduing Division, I recall, should have three Defender Envoys. Has the other one not yet returned?"
Among the three Demon-Subduing Divisions of the South Nether Prefecture, Mountain-Breaking City was initially considered the weakest. But even so, it also had three Defender Envoys. Of course, now, the other two major Demon-Subduing Divisions have each lost a Defender Envoy. In comparison, their strengths are now virtually indistinguishable.