In the assembly hall of the Sandao Association, the three leaders, along with the Sect Master of the Zhenshan Sect and the Head镖头 of the Yuanshan Escort Agency, were seated with serious expressions.
On the row of seats to the left, Ji Yuan, Zhao Yuansong, and Shen Lang were also present.
It was clear that after some deliberation, they had agreed to Xu Liuqing's proposal, accepted the Zhenshan Sect's 'apology,' and taken on the responsibility of dealing with the two second-realm demons within the county yamen.
However, even without the Zhenshan Sect's 'apology,' they seemed to have no other choice. For their own lives and safety, they had to grit their teeth and agree.
What's more, this matter concerned the lives of tens of thousands of citizens in the entire city!
Whether they admitted it or not, the lives of all the people in Qianyu City were currently in the hands of those in this hall.
And before Ji Yuan and the others lay the so-called 'apology' from the Zhenshan Sect.
On a nanmu wooden table, in addition to a thick stack of bank notes worth fifty thousand taels of silver, there were seven hundred taels of gold, and two heavy artifacts and one magical artifact.
Originally, the Sect Master of the Zhenshan Sect intended to offer some mundane treasures, such as ancient collectibles or rare stones, in place of these three heavy artifacts and the magical artifact.
After all, the difficulty and value of crafting a heavy artifact, while not comparable to a magical artifact of the same grade, were still considerable.
Let alone the value of a magical artifact, which was equivalent to the bank notes worth tens of thousands of taels of silver, and two to three heavy artifacts were equivalent to one magical artifact.
However, at Ji Yuan's strong insistence, the Zhenshan Sect had to withdraw the mundane treasures they had prepared. Despite their heartache, they could only produce two heavy artifacts and one magical artifact.
The Yuanshan Escort Agency was the same. The Sandao Association did not accept mundane treasures and demanded spiritual items from cultivators.
Although the two sects were reluctant, they could only grit their teeth and hand them over. After all, it was due to their carelessness and underestimation of the enemy; otherwise, the areas occupied by demons in the county town might have already been cleared.
If the county town eventually fell and the members of the two sects were almost wiped out, it would be one thing. But if the imperial court investigated later, they would inevitably bear some responsibility.
If they were not worried about the imperial court, these people would not have bled so much. Let them manage it or not, they would perish together.
However, upon seeing the three people before him, the Sect Master of the Zhenshan Sect frowned deeply. Although he said nothing, all his thoughts were reflected on his face.
Zhao Yuansong, with his second-realm cultivation, had nothing to complain about. But a Daoist priest in the middle stage of the Qi Refining realm and a Confucian scholar of the same realm were simply not enough.
In the Sect Master's opinion, the possessed citizens outside the county yamen alone were enough to give these people a headache, let alone the demonized individuals clad in armor and covered in tough scales within the yamen, as well as the two second-realm existences.
Even with the help of Xu Liuqing and dozens of members of the Sandao Association, they would likely suffer heavy losses before even encountering the second-realm demons guarding the yamen, rendering them unable to fight.
In that case, not only would the items they were giving now be wasted, but even their own lives would be in jeopardy.
"The situation in the county yamen is roughly as described. Does Master Zhao have confidence?"
Despite his reservations, the Sect Master of the Zhenshan Sect carefully explained the situation within the county yamen to the group.
Although their previous actions had ended in failure, the Zhenshan Sect had managed to gather considerable intelligence. This included the number of possessed citizens in the periphery and the strength of the more than ten constables.
Most importantly, however, were the abilities displayed by Yuan Yongcheng and Sun Youfang.
The former was a Confucian scholar who had fallen into the demonic path, and the latter had likely cultivated demonic arts for decades, his demonic energy ingrained deep within his bones.
One of them had chosen the martial path, his iron fists unleashed with overwhelming force and a domineering aura. The other employed an endless array of demonic techniques, excelling at affecting the minds of others.
The ancestor of the Zhenshan Sect had fallen victim to a trick by Sun Youfang, causing him to be unable to concentrate during combat. Yuan Yongcheng seized the opportunity and inflicted a severe blow.
Otherwise, with the physique of a second-realm martial artist, it was impossible for him to have been defeated so easily, nearly to the point of being beyond recovery.
Facing the Sect Master of the Zhenshan Sect's question, Zhao Yuansong instinctively glanced at the person beside him, the de facto leader of their group, assuming it wasn't himself, a second-realm cultivator.
Ji Yuan, with a pensive expression, naturally took over the conversation, "The possessed citizens are easy to handle. Whether it's Buddhist true words or Confucian sage writings, they can be easily suppressed."
"As for the dozen or so constables transformed into demon soldiers, a Hao Ran Demon Subduing Talisman pasted onto their weapons will suffice to pierce their metallic scales."
Only the two second-realm demons were the most troublesome. Although he had some ideas for dealing with them, he dared not promise success at this moment.
The difference between the first and second realms, though seemingly a thin line, represented a world of difference for both martial artists and cultivators.
Once they generated true qi or spiritual power within their bodies, not only would every action be imbued with immense power, but they could also employ numerous miraculous techniques.
"Since Daoist Ji is confident, let us depart at once."
The chief leader of the Sandao Association spoke. He was a man nearing fifty.
He mused, "The Sandao Association will also mobilize later and do our utmost to secure the City God Temple."
At this juncture of life and death, no one could hold back. Otherwise, what awaited them would not merely be death, but possibly transformation into demons or the eternal imprisonment of their souls, with no chance of reincarnation.
Thus, amidst complex gazes, Ji Yuan nodded in agreement. Then, with a wave of his sleeve, he collected all the valuables on the table. He tossed one heavy artifact to Shen Lang and kept the magical artifact for himself.
The last heavy artifact was handed over to Jiang He by Zhao Yuansong. This way, their group would each possess a heavy artifact or a magical artifact.
This was also why Ji Yuan had insisted on only these items. In the current situation, more gold and silver were useless; a magical artifact in hand was far more practical.
As they exited the assembly hall, several people waiting outside immediately stepped forward. Jiang He received the heavy artifact, quite pleased with and fond of the long staff.
"If there's nothing else we need to prepare, shall we set off immediately?"
Xu Liuqing approached the group and asked directly.
Outside the assembly hall, dozens of black-robed figures had already gathered silently. They were all disciples of Xu Liuqing, skilled martial artists.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan was about to nod when a sudden tremor ran through him, as if a great danger was approaching.
He abruptly turned to look, but saw no unusual movement around him. Yet, the expressions of several people beside him subtly changed, as if they too had sensed something unusual.
Buzz!!!
After a few breaths, a buzzing sound echoed from afar. Soon, five beams of light shot up into the sky, occupying five positions in the city and quickly connecting into a single network.
Black and grey hues stained the entire sky, blocking the sun's brilliance. The county town immediately plunged into darkness, not to the point of pitch blackness, but comparable to dusk.
"Damn it! Someone has sealed this world with a formation!"
Zhao Yuansong exclaimed, his expression instantly becoming unpredictable.
Everyone looked up at the sky. The entire sky above the county town was covered by a black and grey luminous barrier, as if a large bowl had been inverted over Qianyu City.
As time passed, strands of demonic and monstrous energy continuously descended from the luminous barrier, quickly spreading to every corner of the city.
Even the headquarters of the Sandao Association where they were located was the same. wisps of demonic and monstrous energy permeated the air, attempting to invade the bodies of all living beings.
The other individuals in the assembly hall also emerged after sensing the anomaly, looking grimly at the changes unfolding in the world.
No one had expected that after setting up a formation on the city walls, the hidden orchestrator, finding it insufficient, would directly activate a grand formation to seal the entire area of the county town!
In this way, they had truly become trapped like fish in a jar, with no room for luck.
Everyone knew that the other party's actions clearly would not spare anyone in the city. Such a grand demonic formation was far more than just sealing the heavens and earth.
Just as everyone was pondering the intentions of the hidden orchestrator and how to deal with this situation, several members of the Sandao Association rushed back in a disheveled state.
One of them, before even stabilizing himself, hastily shouted, "Leader! The citizens outside have gone mad!"
In Qianyu City, as countless strands of demonic and monstrous energy descended from the luminous barrier above, many citizens suddenly descended into madness.
Their eyes turned blood red, like lunatics. Without reason, they began to smash everything around them, and then pounced on those beside them, either slashing with sharp weapons or biting with their teeth.
As these mad citizens killed more people, their demonic and monstrous aura would intensify, and the blood red in their eyes would deepen.
Among them were several members with decent martial arts skills. After wielding their weapons and killing twenty to thirty people, their aura suddenly surged, directly breaking through to the early stage of the Flesh and Bone realm!
In an instant, the entire Qianyu City descended into chaos. Everywhere, mad people were frantically attacking sober citizens. Even in an area where there were no normal people left, they would begin to kill each other.
In less than a quarter of an hour, at least several thousand people had perished. Some, who were preparing lunch at home, were brutally killed by the invading demons.
Yes, these mad citizens had all become demons, their demonic and monstrous energy surging. With each kill, their aura would grow stronger. Those who killed many even had an aura comparable to first-realm martial artists and cultivators.
Within a mere quarter of an hour since the grand formation that sealed this world appeared, the county town had gained ten to twenty thousand more demons!
"Everyone, disperse! Form teams of ten and kill all the demons in this block!"
The chief leader of the Sandao Association, upon learning of the situation outside the mansion, immediately gave a decisive order, "Remember not to hold back, otherwise, you will be the ones to die!"
The members of the Sandao Association took their orders and, led by their respective hall masters and leaders, dispersed into the entire block, beginning to clear out the possessed citizens.
Among them were many familiar faces from the past, making it difficult for them to strike. Thus, in their hesitation, they were surrounded by demons from all directions and torn to shreds.
These possessed citizens had lost all reason, their minds affected by demonic and monstrous energy, becoming lunatics who only knew how to kill.
Simultaneously, disciples from the Zhenshan Sect and the Yuanshan Escort Agency, banding together, left the Sandao Association mansion. They cooperated with some non-martial members of the Sandao Association to gather all the citizens not yet affected by the demonic and monstrous energy.
In less than half an hour, the entire mansion was filled with citizens. They all wore expressions of terror. Even though they were in a safe place, they were still unable to calm their hearts for a long time.
"If this continues, some people might fall into demonic possession on the spot!"
Ji Yuan stood outside the hall, looking down at the surrounding citizens, and said with a grave expression.
Under the influence of demonic and monstrous energy, those with weak willpower, or those who already harbored ill intentions, were the most likely to fall into the demonic path and become mindless killers.
At this moment, the entire Sandao Association mansion was imbued with a thick layer of fear. The citizens who had narrowly escaped disaster were at the verge of a mental breakdown.
"We must find a way to isolate the demonic and monstrous energy!"
Xu Liuqing looked up at the sky, his face a mask of cold anger.
Although he was not a native, he had lived here for nearly ten years. Now, those suffering were the familiar neighbors from around him.
"Amitabha, let this humble monk try."
Huixin clasped his hands together and sat on the edge of the stone steps. Facing the fearful and uneasy citizens, he began to chant Buddhist scriptures in a low voice.
In a moment, a faint golden light flowed out from within him. Although he chanted softly, his voice was like the striking of a morning bell and a dusk drum, echoing in everyone's ears and lingering endlessly.