Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Chapter 421: Chapter 191: Double Kill!

He Yuzhou waved his hand, his expression anything but relaxed. "Unfortunately, we were still a step too late. We couldn’t prevent this tragedy."

When dormant, that man Heart Devourer was silent and unseen. But when he acted, he struck like lightning, aiming for the heart of the matter. It was a truly chilling thought.

"That fiend, Heart Devourer, must be exterminated as soon as possible!"

Zhou Nianchu snorted. "The man is a poisoned thorn plunged into the heart of our Yunlin Prefecture! He destroyed the Xuanjia Sect today; tomorrow, his butcher’s blade could fall upon my Qixia Manor, the Wutai Sect, or Cold Jade Valley! As long as this threat remains, none of us can rest easy!"

"Manor Master Zhou is right!"

"Heart Devourer is a dire threat to all of us in Yunlin Prefecture!"

Everyone present nodded in agreement.

The threat of Heart Devourer hung like a dark cloud over them all.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the hall. He Yueting, Second Manor Master of Qixia Manor, rushed in with several of the manor’s experts. They were travel-worn, clearly having just come from a vicious fight.

In his hand, He Yueting held a mangled, bloody head.

"Manor Master!"

He Yueting bowed to Zhou Nianchu. "Upon receiving your message, I immediately gathered my men and rushed here with all speed. The journey was long, however, and we still arrived late. Please forgive me, Manor Master! Fortunately, at Black Wind Ravine, thirty li outside the mountains, we happened upon that demon Chang Suning as he tried to flee. Elder Mo and I joined forces and finally managed to kill him!"

With that, he tossed the head onto the floor.

Everyone stared. Though the face was disfigured, it was still recognizable. It was none other than "Ghost Shadow" Chang Suning—one of the Eight Great Guardians of the Demon Sect’s Yunlin Sub-Pavilion, famed for his Qinggong and Poison Palm techniques!

A quiet commotion of shocked gasps rippled through the hall.

Chang Suning was Heart Devourer’s trusted confidant, an extremely cunning and difficult foe. No one had expected him to be intercepted and killed by He Yueting.

"And Elder Mo?"

Zhou Nianchu asked, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"Elder Mo suffered some internal injuries. He is resting and regulating his energy outside," He Yueting answered respectfully.

"Why were you so late?" Zhou Nianchu’s tone was flat, yet it carried an interrogative edge.

A wry smile touched He Yueting’s lips. "Manor Master, I ask for your understanding. I gathered my men and departed the very instant I received the messenger hawk, not daring to delay for a moment. However, Qixia Manor is the farthest from here. We were also delayed on the road when we ran into two groups of the Demon Sect’s routed forces and were forced to engage them..."

"Enough. Second Master He is not to blame for this."

He Yuzhou interjected to smooth things over. His gaze swept over Chang Suning’s head, and his tone softened. "For Second Master He and Elder Mo to have slain Chang Suning is a great accomplishment in itself. They have clipped one of the Demon Sect’s wings. You’ve done well."

Leng Qianqiu also gave a slight nod. "Chang Suning’s death is certainly good news."

Only then did Zhou Nianchu’s expression soften. He nodded at He Yueting. "Well done."

He Yueting cupped his fist in acknowledgment and retreated to one side.

He Yuzhou surveyed the room and summarized the situation. "The Demon Sect’s Yunlin Sub-Pavilion has suffered devastating losses this time. Jiangchuan Bridge and Mei Kun, who came from Lin’an Prefecture, have been slain, and now Chang Suning is dead as well. Of their supposed Eight Great Guardians in Yunlin—Hu Mei, Han Baiyi, and Chang Suning, combined with their previous losses—five are now gone! Their elite followers have suffered innumerable casualties. Had Heart Devourer not escaped, the Demon Sect’s Yunlin Sub-Pavilion would be considered defunct in all but name!"

His words lifted everyone’s spirits, but only for a moment. The thought that the arch-culprit was still at large quickly extinguished their brief enthusiasm.

Leng Qianqiu’s voice was grave. "Heart Devourer is the true heart of the problem. If that fiend isn’t eliminated, today’s defeat is nothing more than a flesh wound to him. Given time, he will undoubtedly rally his forces and return with a vengeance. It’s a shame he managed to escape into the Earth Element Cave, plunder its resources, and then vanish without a trace!"

A hint of anxiety laced her tone.

Heart Devourer was the root of the demonic plague in Yunlin. Unless that root was pulled, there would never be peace.

The hall once again fell silent, the oppressive atmosphere growing even heavier.