"Ghost, ahhhhhhh!"
Seeing the horrifying scene, Ning Caichen's courage almost shriveled.
If nothing unexpected happened, he would likely have a psychological shadow concerning women for the rest of his life.
However, it was understandable.
They always said "a beautiful woman is a monster in disguise."
But anyone whose tender and charming lover suddenly transformed into a pus-oozing, maggot-infested monster wouldn't react well.
At this moment, Nie Xiaoqian realized she had been exposed. Her voice turned chilling, devoid of its former tenderness and charm.
"Hmph! You scholar, I don't know how you saw through my true form. I'll drain you first, and then I'll deal with the one next door."
With that, Nie Xiaoqian, with her festering hands, where white bones could faintly be seen, lunged at Ning Caichen.
Ning Caichen was instantly terrified, screaming in panic. He lunged towards the broken, gaping window beside him, tumbling out of the room and landing outside.
"Help! Ghost! Ghost!"
Ning Caichen fled desperately, but Nie Xiaoqian's speed in the dark was like that of a phantom.
In just a few breaths, Nie Xiaoqian caught up to Ning Caichen, her festering hands, crawling with maggots, grabbed his neck and lifted him into the air.
"Give me all your vital energy."
Nie Xiaoqian said sinisterly, and then her mouth, which had just had a few maggots burst from it, moved to kiss Ning Caichen.
Before her rotting lips could touch his, Ning Caichen felt an overwhelmingly sour, foul stench.
At that very moment, from the faint formation lines Li Qi had secretly drawn behind him, a dazzling light flashed, akin to the midday sun.
This light illuminated almost the entire Lanruo Temple in an instant.
Nie Xiaoqian was also engulfed in this radiance.
"Ahhhhhh!"
A piercing scream erupted from Nie Xiaoqian. Her body fell stiffly to the ground, her very bones melting. Within a few breaths, she completely dissolved into a foul-smelling, viscous liquid.
"Brother Ning, how are you? Are you alright?"
Li Qi emerged from his room, yawning, unhurriedly.
He ignored the pool of viscous liquid next to Ning Caichen and helped him up from the ground.
Ning Caichen was still shaken, clearly not having recovered.
He truly couldn't accept that such a beautiful maiden was a monster.
Looking at Li Qi, who seemed unfazed, Ning Caichen swallowed hard.
"Was that... a ghost..."
Li Qi smiled and nodded slightly, as if it were expected.
Then, Ning Caichen recalled what Li Qi had said when Nie Xiaoqian first entered the temple, and the radiant light that had just emanated from behind him.
Ning Caichen didn't believe he was some divine being blessed with heavenly power. His gaze immediately fell upon Li Qi.
"Brother Li, you saved me."
With that, Ning Caichen bowed to express his gratitude, but Li Qi waved his hand, interrupting the gesture.
"It was nothing, no need for thanks."
Li Qi wasn't actually in Lanruo Temple at the moment. Gazing at the boundless night, he murmured to himself.
"Given the current situation, if Nie Xiaoqian, this minor character, is dead, will the Tree Demon Grandma behind her also reveal herself?"
Just then, Li Qi's head shot up. Miles away...
"Boom boom boom!"
Violent explosions sounded, and terrifying spiritual energy fluctuations spread wildly.
...
Miles away from Lanruo Temple.
On a dark and silent mountain path, three figures walked together.
The moonlight shone upon them, faintly revealing that they all wore the same attire, with a sharp character for "Zhan" (斩 - to slay) inscribed on their clothes.
These three were none other than cultivators from the Demon Slaying Division, and their strength was considerable.
Two were at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, and one was at the fifth.
At this moment, their sharp gazes were fixed on the darkness within a dense, dark forest.
Suddenly, the Demon Slaying Division cultivator at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment said with a serious expression.
"The imperial examinations in the capital are approaching this year. Under the command of Lord Zuo, we are to clear out the demons in the vicinity of the capital to prevent any disturbances during the examinations."
Their purpose in coming here was to find an opportunity to slay the tree demon within the forest, a demon with hundreds of years of cultivation, residing at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment.
For this, they had been waiting in the vicinity of the forest for several days, but had not found a suitable moment to strike.
Just then, from the previously quiet forest, a terrifying aura erupted, surging straight into the heavens.
"Who dares to kill my Tree Demon Grandma's maidservant!"
An enraged voice, neither male nor female, boomed.
Immediately after, a tree demon, at least a hundred meters tall, burst forth from the forest.
"Good opportunity!"
The three Demon Slaying Division cultivators, who had been struggling to find an opening, their eyes suddenly lit up.
"Find an opening and strike together."
Taking advantage of the enraged tree demon's outward charge, which left it unguarded of its surroundings, the three Demon Slaying Division cultivators unleashed their full cultivation, holding nothing back.
They formed various hand seals, and a terrifying force was instantly unleashed, hitting the Tree Demon Grandma squarely.
"Bang!"
Caught off guard, the Tree Demon Grandma was struck with immense force. Looking down, it discovered the three Demon Slaying Division cultivators.
The three Demon Slaying Division cultivators immediately ascended, encircling the Tree Demon Grandma.
"This demon is already heavily injured, quickly strike together to slay it!"
"You shall die!" The Tree Demon Grandma roared in fury, attempting to resist.
If it were at full strength, perhaps its fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivation would not have made it overly fearful.
However, now severely wounded, and under the combined assault of three formidable experts, the Tree Demon Grandma lacked even the strength to resist.
Gradually, a look of terror crept into the Tree Demon Grandma's expression.
"You cannot kill me! If you kill me, Old Black Mountain Demon will not let you go. He is a great demon at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment."
"Old Black Mountain Demon? Heh, I've been in the Demon Slaying Division for decades, and I've never heard of such a demon within the Great Jing."
"Fabricating a demon to make us wary? Dreaming."
One of the Demon Slaying Division cultivators sneered at the words. If such a powerful demon called Old Black Mountain Demon existed within the Great Jing, it would have long been recorded. How could they not know of it?
Furthermore, even if this Old Black Mountain Demon truly existed.
Were not the nine Chief Directors of their Demon Slaying Division all at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment?
And even if the nine Chief Directors were not enough, there was still the Grand Preceptor of the Nation to safeguard the realm!
It was rumored that if the Grand Preceptor of the Nation made a move, even the combined forces of the nine Chief Directors would be no match for him!
"Screech!"
One of the Demon Slaying Division cultivators' sword transformed into a rainbow light, instantly piercing through the Tree Demon Grandma, and its life force rapidly waned.
"Hahaha! This demon is dead! We have finally slain it."
The faces of the three Demon Slaying Division cultivators instantly lit up with joy.
A great demon at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment was a significant menace, even throughout the entire Great Jing.
Now that they had slain it, they would surely receive great rewards upon their return to the Demon Slaying Division.
Li Qi's figure was also present not far away in the darkness.
He had seen these Demon Slaying Division cultivators attacking the Tree Demon Grandma from afar. He had intended to join the fray, but before he could reach them, the Tree Demon Grandma was already slain.
Thinking this, Li Qi decided against meeting these cultivators and prepared to return to Lanruo Temple, intending to travel to the capital with Ning Caichen after daybreak.
But at that moment, Li Qi seemed to sense something, and his gaze turned back to the three Demon Slaying Division cultivators.
The expression of one of the Demon Slaying Division cultivators at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment froze.
The next moment, without any warning, this cultivator at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment...
"Bang!"
His body exploded, turning into a shower of blood and flesh.
The expressions of the other two surviving Demon Slaying Division cultivators instantly shifted from joy to terror.
The Old Black Mountain Demon that the Tree Demon Grandma had spoken of before its death...
was real!
At this moment, an incredibly terrifying aura swept over them.