The world is in chaos, truly.
The entire realm is in turmoil, everyone fearing for their lives.
Yet, strangely, the capital remains as if dead, utterly silent.
As if unaffected by the annihilation of so many cultivators.
And even stranger, after the combined forces of demons and monsters wiped out so many cultivators, there were no signs of them attempting to rampage through Da Jing.
Humans and demons seemed to be in a peculiar state of balance.
The following months continued in this manner.
Li Qi also remained at the tea house for several months. During this time, the number of travelers passing by this official road dwindled.
There were even days when the tea house had no customers at all.
Li Qi became even more relaxed.
And today, two guests arrived at the tea house.
One middle-aged, one young. Both were dressed in ordinary clothes.
The middle-aged man was fine, but the young man, in every movement, displayed an extraordinary presence.
Coupled with the tender skin on his hands and face, he was clearly not a laborer.
Even if not a prince or minister, he must have been a high official.
The middle-aged man first scanned the tea house with a hint of vigilance. After confirming there was no danger.
He turned to the young man behind him and said respectfully.
"Young Master, it's alright. Let's rest inside for a bit before we continue our journey."
After saying this, the middle-aged man's gaze fell upon Li Qi, who was dozing by the counter.
"Innkeeper, do you have anything to quench our thirst? Bring some over quickly."
Hearing that there were guests, Li Qi slightly raised his head and yawned. With hazy eyes, he vaguely pointed to the wall.
"It's all on the wall. Order whatever you want."
After speaking, Li Qi waited for a while, but found no response.
"Do you want tea? Tell me quickly what you want..."
Finally opening his eyes, Li Qi looked at the two men and said.
But the next moment, Li Qi's brow furrowed.
Because he found that the middle-aged man's eyes were unmoving, staring directly at him as if in disbelief.
The young man beside him also noticed something amiss and tugged at the middle-aged man's sleeve.
"Mr. Zuo, what's wrong?"
At this moment, Zuo Shang remained motionless. His memory flashed back to a few years ago, to a portrait given to him by a subordinate.
It was the man in that portrait, who had killed the Nascent Soul stage eight Black Mountain Old Demon with three punches, saving his subordinate.
For years, Zuo Shang had searched for the man in the portrait, wishing to invite him to join the Demon Slaying Division and serve Da Jing, to slay demons and monsters for the people of the realm. But he had found nothing.
After all, killing a great demon of Nascent Soul stage eight with three punches was something that even if the nine Chief Directors personally acted, they might not be able to achieve.
And now...
The person he had searched for in vain appeared before him at the moment he needed help the most.
"Please, fellow Daoist, help me slay the chaotic demon master and restore the glory of Da Jing!"
Zuo Shang clasped his fists solemnly towards Li Qi, his voice filled with entreaty.
The young man beside him couldn't help but be moved. His eyes widened slightly as he looked at Li Qi.
"You know me? Who are you?"
Li Qi also looked at the middle-aged man with some surprise.
Zuo Shang said,
"A few years ago, you saved one of my subordinates from a demon named Black Mountain Old Demon."
"You're from the Demon Slaying Division?" Li Qi immediately reacted.
"What is this chaotic demon master you speak of? Even though your Demon Slaying Division lost three Chief Directors a few months ago, you still have six. You shouldn't need outside help."
Hearing this, Zuo Shang's face twisted into a bitter smile, his eyes filled with hatred.
What Zuo Shang said next finally astonished even Li Qi.
"All nine Chief Directors have perished!"
Zuo Shang narrated, finally making Li Qi understand the entire story.
Decades ago, the old National Preceptor's lifespan was nearing its end, and he remained stuck at the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm, unable to enter the Golden Core.
Before his death, he passed on the position of National Preceptor to the new National Preceptor, "Pu Du."
After Pu Du succeeded as National Preceptor, the chaos of demons and monsters gradually began.
Initially, the Demon Slaying Division was filled with experts, and any demon that appeared was quickly dealt with.
And about ten years ago, demonic activity became more frequent, and the Demon Slaying Division began to be overwhelmed.
Around that time, National Preceptor Pu Du approached Emperor Jing Chang of Da Jing, claiming to have a method to break through to the Golden Core realm. He said it required the combined efforts of many strong individuals, and then, one would break through, and the others would follow.
Once in the Golden Core realm, all demons and monsters in the world could be easily eradicated.
Emperor Jing Chang was overjoyed upon hearing this.
Thus, he dispatched the nine Chief Directors of the Demon Slaying Division, along with many cultivators of the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, to cultivate day and night in the National Preceptor's mansion, hoping to break through to the Golden Core.
Only a small number of experts remained to maintain the order of Da Jing's Demon Slaying Division.
However, in reality, National Preceptor Pu Du never had a method for everyone to break through. What he intended to do was suppress the souls of these strong individuals, then slowly absorb all their essence, spirit, and souls, to help himself break through alone.
Even the proliferation of demons and monsters in the world was secretly orchestrated by National Preceptor Pu Du.
And a few months ago, in the Battle of Ten Thousand Demon Forest, Emperor Jing Chang personally went to the National Preceptor's mansion to summon three Chief Directors.
Unfortunately, the three Chief Directors had already been placed under a restriction by National Preceptor Pu Du.
The annihilation of human cultivators in the Ten Thousand Demon Forest was not due to the siege of numerous demons.
It was entirely because the controlled Chief Directors turned their weapons against the human cultivators, which was the real reason.
Then, more than half a month ago, in the National Preceptor's mansion, the Chief Directors, realizing something was wrong, sacrificed their souls and cultivation as a price, forcibly breaking through the soul suppression, and exposing National Preceptor Pu Du's true nature.
However, by then, Emperor Jing Chang and many other ministers had already fallen prey to National Preceptor Pu Du, their souls controlled.
At this moment, National Preceptor Pu Du was the true administrator of Da Jing.
Zuo Shang realized something was amiss and quickly fled with the Crown Prince, the young man beside him.
For the past half a month, the two of them had been evading pursuit.
"Please, fellow Daoist, help me slay the demon master!"
"Please, sir, help me restore order to the court!"
Zuo Shang and Jing Qian'an pleaded in unison.