Human Clan Defender

Resembling an academy, it stood at the center of the city. Everyone there walked swiftly, a solemn expression on each face.

This was the Demon-Subduing Division.

One of the three major Demon-Subduing Divisions in the Great Wilderness Prefecture.

Inside the Council Hall, a few Defender Envoys sat on their respective thrones, their expressions grim.

"You must have all received the news from the Heavenly Inspection Guard," Shi Kaitai began, looking at the other two, his voice heavy. "Recently, the Demon Evils have grown more rampant. They not only attack cities, ignoring our Demon-Subduing Division, but have also caused many civilian casualties. This matter has been reported to the Capital City. If we cannot resolve it, His Majesty will also mete out punishment."

If the Great Wilderness Prefecture was plagued by Demon Evils, then the Demon-Subduing Division stationed there bore an inescapable responsibility. If this matter continued to escalate, even the Demon-Subduing Division, despite its exalted status, wouldn't have an easy time of it. After all, the duty of the Demon-Subduing Division is to suppress Demon Evils and ensure the peace and safety of the people of Great Qin. If they cannot suppress Demon Evils, then what is the point of the Demon-Subduing Division's existence?

Moreover, the exalted status of the Demon-Subduing Division is only relative. The Capital Demon Suppression Division is the origin of all Demon-Subduing Divisions, and it is the only one that can contend with imperial power. As for the Demon-Subduing Divisions in other regions, they are weaker by comparison. If the Imperial Court truly decides to hold them accountable, even they, as Defender Envoys, will not be spared.

Hearing this, Yang Qian frowned and said in a deep voice, "According to our intelligence, this Demon Evil scourge isn't solely the work of the Eternal Alliance; there appears to be a second party involved. The Heavenly Inspection Guard has already fanned out to gather related intelligence, but so far, there hasn't been much progress. Our Yecheng Demon-Subduing Division has dispatched almost all available personnel. What news from the Demon-Subduing Divisions in Panlong City and Beihuang City?"

Yang Qian was acutely aware of the severity of the Demon Evil calamities. The Yecheng Demon-Subduing Division had already deployed almost all its available forces. Aside from the few Defender Envoys holding the fort, no spare personnel remained. If this contingent of active forces were to be wiped out elsewhere, the Yecheng Demon-Subduing Division's foundation would be decimated.

Shi Kaitai shook his head. "Panlong City and Beihuang City are in the same situation as us; no spare forces remain." He then continued, "I also tried requesting aid from the Capital City. Unfortunately, the situation across Great Qin is dire. The Capital City is too distant to quench a nearby fire; their assistance wouldn't make a significant difference."

"I heard the Capital City also sent some Demon Hunters to the Great Wilderness Prefecture?" Yang Qian frowned.

If even the Capital Demon Suppression Division couldn't spare any personnel, the various regional Demon-Subduing Divisions would be in a very awkward position.

Hearing this, Shi Kaitai nodded. "A group of Demon Hunters did arrive. Unfortunately, most aren't very powerful, and with the recent Demon Evil troubles, some have already perished at their hands. However—there is one whose strength is commendable. He's said to be a genius from the Capital Demon Suppression Division, having reached the Innate Outer Gang Realm in less than three years. The Eternal Alliance stronghold in Jincheng was destroyed precisely because of his presence, and civilian casualties there were kept within a controllable range."

Hearing this, the expressions of the other two Defender Envoys changed subtly.

Huang Jing, who had remained silent, finally spoke, "Reaching the Innate Outer Gang Realm in less than three years—that indicates the foundation of a Grandmaster. He'll have a chance to be promoted to Defender Envoy in the future. With the current chaos everywhere, the number of newly promoted Defender Envoys can't nearly keep up with those we've lost. It seems the Capital Demon Suppression Division has truly found a gem."

The loss of Defender Envoys was inevitable. The biggest problem now was that while Defender Envoys fell, new ones weren't necessarily being promoted to replace them. Due to this imbalance, the strength of the Demon-Subduing Divisions in various regions was naturally in steady decline.

Shi Kaitai shook his head, a nearly imperceptible sigh escaping him. "Whether he's a treasure or not depends on how far he can go in the future. The Martial Dao ultimately has its limits. Compared to Demon Evils, its shortcomings are significant."

Suddenly, the hall fell silent.

At this moment, someone entered from outside.

"Greetings, honorable Defender Envoys!"

Shi Kaitai looked calmly at the person below and asked indifferently, "What is it?"

The person bowed with clasped hands. "Reporting to Defender Envoy Shi, a message from the Heavenly Inspection Guard! A Fiend Level Strange Monster has appeared, and the Black Tiger Army is currently resisting it. They are requesting support from the Demon-Subduing Division!"

BOOM!

Several powerful auras erupted from the Council Hall.

Shi Kaitai's gaze turned cold. "Where is it!"

"Jiang City!"

"I understand. You may leave," Shi Kaitai waved his hand. After the person departed, he turned his gaze to the other two Defender Envoys. "The appearance of a Fiend Level Strange Monster is no small matter. Although the Black Tiger Army can fight Grandmasters, a Fiend Level Strange Monster is stronger than an average Grandmaster. Their call for help means they likely can't hold out for much longer. Will you two take action, or shall I?"

Yang Qian stood up. "I'll go. You and Huang Jing remain in Yecheng. Jiang City is in the heartland of the Great Wilderness Prefecture. If a Fiend Level Strange Monster has appeared there, the situation in other areas is likely grim."

A Fiend Level Strange Monster appearing in the heartland of the Great Wilderness Prefecture meant the situation had become extremely critical. Moreover, the Eternal Alliance must be plotting something. Otherwise, they wouldn't have let a Fiend Level Strange Monster appear so brazenly. After all, losing a Fiend Level Strange Monster is a significant blow to the Eternal Alliance. Yang Qian wouldn't believe they had no follow-up plans after revealing such a creature in the heartland of the Great Wilderness Prefecture. The best course of action was for him to go and eliminate the Demon Evil, while Shi Kaitai and Huang Jing defended Yecheng, ready to adapt to any developments.

Neither of them refused.

Shi Kaitai nodded. "You may go, but be cautious. I worry the Demon Evils might have other schemes."

"I understand."

「Overnight.」

Within the Great Wilderness Prefecture, large-scale Demon Evil calamities erupted everywhere. Fiend Level Strange Monsters, rarely seen before, appeared in great numbers. At once, the Defender Envoys from the three major Demon-Subduing Divisions in the Great Wilderness Prefecture mobilized simultaneously, heading to various regions to quell the disasters.

The entire Great Wilderness Prefecture was thrown into turmoil.

「Night.」

The city walls were lit with flickering torches as soldiers patrolled back and forth.

"Have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"I hear many places in the Great Wilderness Prefecture have been hit by Demon Evil outbreaks recently," one of two soldiers patrolling together on the city wall said. "A lot of people have died."

Patrolling was a tedious job, day after day. If they didn't chat to pass the time, it would be unbearable.

Hearing this, the other soldier nodded, his expression turning resentful at the mention of Demon Evils.

"Those things deserve to die! If my talent wasn't so poor, I'd have joined the Demon-Subduing Division long ago. Now, I just hope for the day all those Demon Evils are utterly annihilated."

The first soldier sneered, his words laced with both dissatisfaction and contempt for the Demon Evils. "They only bully the weak and fear the strong. With so many troops stationed in the city, not a single Demon Evil dares show its face here."

Humans bully the weak and fear the strong; Demon Evils were no different.

The other man laughed. "Isn't that obvious? With a hundred thousand troops stationed here in Ningshan City, any Demon Evil causing trouble would be walking into its grave—"

Mid-sentence, he suddenly clutched his stomach, his face contorting in pain. "Ugh, my stomach hurts... must've been something I ate. Old Yang, cover for me, will you? I need to relieve myself."

Old Yang chuckled and teased, "You lazy buggers always have to go! Go on then, but hurry back. If the superiors make their rounds and you're gone, don't say I didn't cover for you."

The soldier grinned and hurried down from the city wall.

As Old Yang was about to look away from the direction the other man had left, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a chilling gleam, utterly different from the surrounding darkness, out of the corner of his eye. The gleam was exceedingly fast, reaching him in an instant.

THWACK—

An arrow struck flesh. Old Yang's chest was pierced through, blood bursting out like a blooming flower. Life was slipping away. In the moment before he took his last breath, he used the very last of his strength to let out a thunderous roar.

"Enemy! Attack!"

The words had barely left his lips when over a dozen more arrows flew towards him, riddling his body. But his desperate shout had alerted the other guards on the wall.

"An enemy attack! Go report it!"

"Enemy attack, everyone on alert!"

"Quick, transmit my command, prepare for battle—"

The shouts instantly plunged the entirety of Ningshan City into a state of high alert.

Unlike other cities, Ningshan City was a border stronghold of the Great Wilderness Prefecture, populated not by many civilians but mainly by stationed troops. Therefore, the city had no Yamen; instead, it housed a General's Mansion.

As the entire city went on alert, the commander in the General's Mansion received the news immediately.

"Someone!" a stern-looking middle-aged man bellowed, immediately donning his armor.

At his call, a soldier quickly entered.

"General!"

"Speak! What exactly happened!" The middle-aged man's commanding gaze bore down on the soldier.

The soldier felt immense pressure and bowed respectfully. "Reporting, General! Enemies have attacked Ningshan City! The guards on the city wall are in a state of combat readiness. Please, General, take command!"

The middle-aged man asked in a deep voice, "Do we know the enemy's origin?"

Before the soldier could answer, roars of tigers and cries of leopards echoed through the night, like a myriad of beasts in unison.

Hearing the roars, the middle-aged man's expression turned grim.

The Barbarian Clan! Only the Barbarian Clan possessed the means to command tigers and leopards. And who else but the Barbarian Clan would dare attack Ningshan City? He hadn't been entirely certain before, but the roars confirmed it.

Instantly, the middle-aged man, clad in armor and gripping a silver lance, strode out of the General's Mansion.