Devouring Soul Emperor

Chapter 361: Chapter 361: One Last Gamble

The ten Demon Beasts from the City Lord’s Mansion took off first.

After seeing them depart, Chu Qingyun’s seven Demon Beasts also took flight, carrying everyone from the Chu Family toward Lianshan County City.

Many of Qingshan City’s residents saw the Demon Beasts land at the Chu Family estate and the City Lord’s Mansion before flying away with the Chu Family.

"Heh heh, looks like that Chu Family is in some kind of trouble."

"Hmph. They’re just people from some backwater village, yet they dared to take over the Blood Wolf Gang’s territory. They’re just asking to die. I’d say they offended someone powerful, or else why would Flying Demon Beasts be sent to grab them!"

"It didn’t look to me like they were being captured. Those Chu Family members didn’t resist at all..."

"Resist? As if they’d dare! Did you see those Demon Beasts? Their auras were terrifyingly fierce!"

After Chu Qingyun and the others left, a crowd gathered near the Chu Family’s home, buzzing with discussion.

The Chu Family had originated from Chu Family Village, giving them humble beginnings. Many of Qingshan City’s natives, no matter how they behaved on the surface, secretly looked down on them.

This was especially true because the Chu Family possessed the Primordial Stones left by Chu Qingyun, enjoyed the support of the City Lord’s Mansion, and had inherited nearly everything from the Blood Wolf Gang. Their rapid rise in Qingshan City naturally made them a target for even greater jealousy.

As the crowd gathered, it suddenly dawned on someone that the Chu Family members seemed to have left without taking a single thing.

Gradually, some people could no longer hold back. They broke into the Chu Family’s home, snatched a few things, and ran.

With the first person leading the way, more people swarmed in and began to loot. The sight of the courtyard floor covered in Primordial Stones—the ones Chu Qingyun had kicked over—drove them into a frenzy. Spurred on by greed, they grew even more frantic, even coming to blows with one another.

And just then, another dozen or so Tier Three Flying Demon Beasts stormed into Qingshan City.

The people from the Martial Soul Hall were far less courteous than Chu Qingyun’s group. A Tier Three Demon Beast dove, and the Tier Three Martial Spirit riding it casually snatched a person off the street.

"Where is the Chu Family estate? Show me!"

The captured man, trembling with fright, shakily pointed in the direction of the Chu Family’s home before being unceremoniously dropped.

The dozen or so Tier Three Demon Beasts landed directly inside the Chu Family compound, destroying a large swath of buildings and courtyard walls in the process. They completely surrounded the people who were looting the Primordial Stones.

The dozen-plus Small Spirit Realm experts leaped down from their Demon Beasts, their auras overwhelming as they sneered at the crowd.

But when they learned that the members of the Chu Family had been taken away just one step ahead of them, their faces turned pale with fury. They were absolutely livid!

Before they came, Sub-Palace Master Xuan Snake had given them a direct order: they were to capture Chu Qingyun’s parents and his most important relatives and bring them all back to that abandoned town.

If they couldn’t even accomplish this one task, he had told them to just kill themselves. It would be better than returning only to be executed!

But now, despite rushing here with all possible speed, they were still one step too late. Chu Qingyun had already taken everyone away!

’By my calculations, it’s definitely too late to chase after them now.’

’And even if we could catch up, what then? Chu Qingyun is with a dozen-plus Tier Three Martial Spirits from the Great Xia Dragon Guard. If we ran into them, we would just be slaughtered!’

"Damn it! Damn it all!"

One of the Tier Three Martial Spirits from the Martial Soul Hall roared in fury. Venting his frustration, he unleashed a blast of Primordial Power that obliterated a dozen people in the courtyard, leaving not even a trace of their bones.

The rest of the looters were scared into absolute silence, not daring to even breathe.

"I’ll ask you lot: was everyone from the Chu Family taken away? Did anyone stay behind to guard the place? Was anyone missed? Tell me, and I’ll spare your lives!"

another Tier Three Martial Spirit asked the remaining survivors, unwilling to give up.

The few dozen survivors glanced at each other, their faces utterly dejected. "N-No one... they’re gone, Lord. It seems... they all left..."

Hearing this, the hearts of the dozen-plus Tier Three Martial Spirits sank, and their eyes blazed with uncontrollable fury.

’This was a death sentence!’

Just then, one of the looters, as if recalling something, spoke up timidly, "L-Lord... I have something to say, but I don’t know if I should..."

"If you have something to say, spit it out!" a Tier Three Martial Spirit barked coldly.

"Y-yes, sir! As far as I know, the Chu Family came from a place called Chu Family Village. All of them used to be villagers there. So, while those Demon Beasts took away the main family members, the people in Chu Family Village are definitely still there."

’There’s still a Chu Family Village!’

The eyes of the dozen-plus Tier Three Martial Spirits from the Martial Soul Hall lit up. It was like finding a glimmer of hope in the darkest hour.

"Excellent! We’ll just go to Chu Family Village and grab a few people to complete our mission!" one of the Tier Three Martial Spirits said with a smile.

However, several others shook their heads. "Chu Qingyun only evacuated the main Chu Family, he didn’t bother with Chu Family Village. That proves the villagers aren’t important to him at all."

"He’s right. Just think: what if we bring a few of them back and they turn out to be useless? The Hall Master will skin us alive! At that point, even a quick death would be a luxury!"

The vast majority of the Martial Soul Hall members nodded in solemn agreement.

’Xuan Snake is in a rage right now. If he decides we’re making a fool of him, he’ll make sure we wish we were dead...’

"So we can’t grab them, but we can’t not grab them either? Are we supposed to just go and die?" the man who had first suggested going to Chu Family Village said, growing agitated.

"How about this? We seize control of Chu Family Village and force Chu Qingyun to come rescue them. If we can kill him or capture him alive, then not only will we be cleared of blame, we’ll have performed a great service!"

"But... if those people aren’t important to him, why would Chu Qingyun come to save them? Besides, even if he does show up, can we really beat him? Even Lord Mu fell at his hands."

"We’ll tell him there are only Tier Three Martial Spirits here. He should come. Lord Mu used that same trick..."

"We’re dead either way! If we lure Chu Qingyun out and kill him, we live. If we can’t kill him and die by his hand instead, the result is the same!"

After a heated discussion, the dozen-plus members of the Martial Soul Hall finally made their decision. They would take control of Chu Family Village to force Chu Qingyun out. It was a final, desperate gamble for their lives!

And so, naturally, the man who had betrayed Chu Family Village was hauled onto a Demon Beast to serve as their guide.

The man was filled with a regret so deep he could have cried, but no tears would come. He wanted nothing more than to give himself a few hard slaps across the face.

’Why couldn’t you just keep your mouth shut? Why did you have to go looking for trouble and mention Chu Family Village? Now look at you, acting as a guide for this pack of vicious killers. It’s a miracle if you even survive this!’