0126 Demon General (Please Follow!!)

Jiang Feng always had a way.

In the half year he had known him, this was the impression that left the deepest mark on Ping Luan Shan. Thus, even though the Chain Clarity Method was a secret technique used by the Demon Suppression Army for years and theoretically flawless, Jiang Feng’s words filled Ping Luan Shan with sudden hope. If it could truly be improved, perhaps those veterans marching toward their deaths would not have to die after all.

However, carefully observing Jiang Feng’s expression, he asked, "Are you... are you really giving up on the Grand Examination? Maybe it won't take long; just go over there and get the results?"

Jiang Feng shook his head. "No, there's no time. The Demon Suppression Army is extremely rigid about time. If they say the Hour of the Rooster, they mean it starts exactly then. And besides..."

Wan Si-yu was overseeing the Prefecture Office. Jiang Feng did not know what Hua Su had said to him to secure his release from the dungeon, but he knew exactly what Wan Si-yu wanted from him. He could not afford to waste a single second; he could not risk tangling with Wan Si-yu.

He quickened his pace. "Let's go, hurry. Some things must be abandoned when they must be."

His heart twisted as he spoke. He was not giving up something trivial. If the Grand Examination were merely his own dream, he wouldn't be in such pain. But it was the Young Lady’s instruction, the path she had mapped out for him, the only way to see her again! To abandon it was to defy her. Since meeting her, Jiang Feng had never done such a thing.

He clenched his fists, eyes fixed ahead, not lingering, but moving faster. As he said, some things had to be let go. Compared to the lives of hundreds of veterans, what was his own future? Moreover, he glanced toward the northeast—the direction of the capital. Even without the Grand Examination, could he not still go to the capital? Young Lady, even if I have to exhaust every means, I will find you and bring you out!

They had inquired at the Mustard Pavilion before leaving; Hua Su and the others were still at Thousand Lion Bridge. It was the heart of Taicang City, the site where the demon rift had appeared early, with clear characteristics and open terrain—the perfect command post.

The Mustard Pavilion was not far from the bridge, and with their swift pace, the shadowy silhouette of the bridge soon came into view. Ping Luan Shan looked delighted. "Hurry, maybe if we get there and fix it, we'll still make it!"

Jiang Feng didn't even know the details of the Chain Clarity Method; improving it would rely on the Heaven’s Secret Demon Cube, which was no easy task. There was certainly no time for that now. Yet, feeling warmed by his companion’s optimism, he just smiled and did not argue.

Suddenly, his expression shifted. "Back away!"

They had just reached the banks of the Changchuan River. Ping Luan Shan obeyed instinctively, stepping back at once. Almost simultaneously, a massive fish breached the river, sending up a wall of spray as it lunged at them.

The fish was pitch black, devoid of light. Atop its back sat a shadow even darker, clutching a long fork. The weapon transformed into a bolt of black light, whistling through the air as it struck toward Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng felt his breath hitch. As he stared at the fork, his entire body seemed paralyzed, unable to move a muscle. The weapon carried an inexplicable power; the moment it appeared, it seized the surrounding space.

Then, a flash of white light leaped out, colliding with the fork with a loud *bang*, knocking it off course. The weapon grazed Jiang Feng’s body, leaving a gash on his arm.

Jiang Feng had no time to worry about his wound. "Ye Xiao!" he cried.

The rabbit that had deflected the fork—its angle and speed told Jiang Feng that only Ye Xiao could have managed such a feat. The rabbit landed on the ground with a soft thud, silent and still. Anxiety surged in Jiang Feng’s heart as the sound of rushing wind rose behind him again.

He rolled to the side, dodging just as the fork flew back at him. This time, it lacked that controlling force, and he barely managed to evade it. From the back of the giant fish, a cold voice spoke: "Boy, tell me, how do you control Zhe Zhi?"

Jiang Feng scrambled away, disheveled and desperate. Each time, the fork grazed him, leaving wounds in non-fatal spots. The bandages he wore turned blood-red in an instant. It was too precise; the creature was toying with him.

He gritted his teeth. "I don't know who this Zhe Zhi is!"

The figure leaped off the fish, walking toward him step by step. Around the creature, countless small, black vortices appeared and vanished. They were interconnected, shredding the nearby landscape, only for the scenery to reset in certain angles.

In the chaos, Jiang Feng noticed Ping Luan Shan standing frozen like a wooden statue. In a flash of insight, he realized: the creature had seized control of this small pocket of space. No wonder it dared to attack so close to Thousand Lion Bridge—it had created a mirage; as long as no one approached, no one would notice the anomaly.

This was no ordinary feat. A localized domain—this was the power of a Martial Sovereign of Meaning.

He struggled to lift his head, staring at the creature. A heavy pressure descended, pinning him to the spot. The spear grazed his neck, drawing blood, and embedded itself in the ground. It was the same as before—skimming his veins without hitting a vital point—but the sheer force tightened his throat until he could barely breathe.

He dropped to his knees. The creature walked up, looking down at him. "A weak human, how do you dare control one of our Demon Race, and a powerful Unity Demon at that? How did you do it?!"

The creature’s eyes were peculiar—no whites, only pure black. In the center of the darkness, a golden vortex rotated slowly. As Jiang Feng met its gaze, he suddenly saw himself trapped within that tiny vortex, struggling desperately.

A wave of overwhelming terror swept through him. He broke into a cold sweat, his face twisting as he stared at the creature, pupils dilated, as if seeing the most horrific thing in existence.

Just then, the Heaven’s Heart Seed within Jiang Feng began to spin counter-clockwise.

It rotated three times in reverse, generating a strange, powerful pull. It caught the consciousness the creature had projected into Jiang Feng’s mind, like a child tugging on a ribbon. With a light tug, it shredded the connection.

A silent, shattering sound echoed. The demon recoiled, shock flashing in its eyes. Jiang Feng had guessed correctly: this was a General-rank demon, equal in power to a Martial Sovereign of Meaning. To Jiang Feng, he was like a human to an ant; no matter how he resisted, the outcome should have been certain. But now, a sharp pain pierced the demon's consciousness. The "ant" had destroyed the power used to infiltrate and control him—the ant had bared its fangs and bitten back.

The Demon General glared at Jiang Feng, muttering, "No wonder Zhe Zhi was controlled by you. It seems you are no ordinary human..."

Countless sounds erupted behind him. The demon turned and realized that Jiang Feng’s strike had done more than just "bite" him. It had shattered his control over the area, dispelling the mirage!

They were right by the Changchuan River, near Thousand Lion Bridge. He could sense several powerful beings on the bridge. Though not his match individually, if they fought together, it would be troublesome. That was why he had set the barrier. Now that it was broken, those people had quickly discovered his presence and were rushing toward them.

The demon frowned, grabbed Jiang Feng, and leaped into the river. The giant fish was waiting. The demon jumped onto its back, let out a shout, and it surged toward the demon rift at a terrifying speed.

The creature was far too strong; even with the Heaven’s Heart Seed, Jiang Feng had no power to fight back. If this continued, he would be dragged into the demon rift. He couldn't even move a hair on his body, leaving him utterly helpless.

From the corner of his eye, he saw the Demon General look back, frown, and urge, "Faster!"

Jiang Feng’s heart skipped a beat.

A Demon General, a Martial Sovereign of Meaning. Since the level of Martial Sect of Clarity, the gap between each rank of cultivation became immense. Martial Sects could fly; Martial Sovereigns could control a domain. These special powers made them invincible in cross-rank battles. The same was true for the Demon Race.

There were no powerhouses at the General level on Thousand Lion Bridge, so why was it so eager to flee? Even with him as a hostage, it didn't make sense! And if Martial Sects could fly, why was this General only urging the giant fish?

Could it be that there was a problem with its power?

Yes, that must be it! The demon rift had only opened to the fourth stage; only School-rank demons should be appearing. Under normal circumstances, a Demon General couldn't possibly be here. It must have suppressed its own power to pass through the rift! That was why it possessed extraordinary special powers but dared not face Hua Su and the others head-on, and why it couldn't even fly!

The rift’s fourth-stage evolution was vast. Soon, the area around Jiang Feng darkened, as if he had entered a thick fog, obscuring his vision. A powerful gravitational pull came from ahead—the demon rift was close. To enter the rift was to never return.

Jiang Feng suddenly closed his eyes, a silent cracking sound ringing in his mind. Then, a burst of golden light pierced the mist, striking directly at the Demon General. In an instant, golden ripples swept across the area, purging all demonic energy in its path!