Human Clan Defender

His arm was severed.

Yin Xiu's ferocious face immediately turned deathly pale. Then, he clutched his wound and explosively retreated. In his flight, he didn't even bother to signal.

As Yin Xiu fled, Su Wan'er and Kou Cang, their faces pitted from corrosion, also showed drastic changes in expression. Without hesitation, the two followed closely behind Yin Xiu to retreat.

Seeing this, Shen Changqing threw the knife handle he was holding. A bit of the blade was still attached, not completely corroded.

The long knife was thrown, swift as thunder.

Kou Cang only heard a gust of wind from behind. Before he could turn his head, he felt a sharp pain in his back, followed quickly by a chill in his chest.

He looked down. A hole had appeared in his chest, though he didn't know how. A great deal of blood gushed from the wound like a breached dam.

Soon after, his body fell to the ground. But the strong life force of a late-stage Grandmaster prevented him from dying immediately.

In his field of view, that fearsome figure was already approaching.

Kou Cang opened his mouth and barely managed to get a few words out. "No, don't..."

Before he could finish, scorching True Yuan completely engulfed him.

A moment later, Kou Cang's form had completely disappeared; only a hot aura remained where he had been.

Shen Changqing withdrew his palm, then found Yin Xiu's severed arm.

The arm of a Demon Evil. Unlike those of other Demonfolk or Strange Monsters, even after being severed, it still possessed life force.

By the time he found the severed arm, Yin Xiu had already gotten quite a distance away.

He rushed forward, using the same technique again. As the Great Sun True Essence burned, Shen Changqing, wanting to speed up the process, cut his palm again. Drops of golden blood fell, causing the severed arm to SIZZLE and slowly dissolve in the blood.

After the severed arm had completely dissolved, a familiar feeling surged up from where the arm had been. Immediately after, the third petal of the Battle Awareness True Intent in his Sea of Consciousness fully transformed.

As for the changes to his body, Shen Changqing didn't think too much about it. He found an empty house nearby, dashed inside, and first swallowed several Heavenly Origin Pills to heal his physical injuries. Then, he swallowed a Nine Suns Pill to expel the residual Yin Evil Aura from his flesh. Last, he took a Dragon Tiger Pill to replenish the life force he had expended. This type of elixir could nourish the flesh's life force and also replenish what was expended. Of course, Heavenly Origin Pills had this effect as well.

After swallowing several types of elixirs, Shen Changqing closed his eyes for Refinement.

"Someone is fighting!"

Xun Qu, who had been hiding somewhere, sensed the battle between Shen Changqing and Yin Xiu and couldn't help stepping out from the shadows.

Though Luyang City was large, the commotion from their battle was significant. Moreover, since he was hiding not too far from the battle site, Xun Qu discovered it right away.

That dense Yin Evil Aura... could it be the Demon Evil of Luyang City has made a move? As for that completely different power, it's very likely someone else has entered Luyang City, he thought.

Many thoughts flashed through his mind. In an instant, Xun Qu associated the incident with the Demon-Subduing Division. Although he mocked Ji Tianlu from time to time, it was perfectly normal for Ji Tianlu to send someone at this time.

Soon, a general idea formed in Xun Qu's mind. Ji Tianlu had sent an expert to find him. This expert had then entered Luyang City and, in the process of searching for him, clashed with the Demon Evil of Luyang City.

It must be this way! he thought. Although I'm not sure when the Demon-Subduing Division acquired such an expert, there's no other explanation.

Xun Qu became more certain of his guess. Even though the aura was very unfamiliar and he had never encountered it, given the current situation in Luyang City, apart from one of their own, no one else would take such a risk lightly.

No good! he thought. The Demon Evil of Luyang City is formidable; the reinforcements might not be its match. I have to go and see—

Xun Qu could not sit still any longer. If his teammate died at the hands of the Luyang City Demon Evil, it would be a huge problem. At that point, he would truly have no chance to leave Luyang City. Only by joining forces with the newcomer was there a chance to kill the Demon Evil.

With this thought, Xun Qu immediately headed towards the location of the battle.

But before he could reach it, an aura as dazzling as the Great Sun suddenly erupted, causing him to pause slightly.

This aura— he wondered. Ji Tianlu is impressive! He even managed to get someone from the Myriad Buddhas Sect? No, wait... when did the Myriad Buddhas Sect have such a powerful warrior?

Xun Qu was puzzled. But he didn't waste time pondering; after a brief pause, he continued towards the location.

In less than a quarter of an hour, he had arrived at the scene of the battle.

The streets were pitted, with lingering Yin Evil Aura that hadn't yet dispersed. A remnant of the dazzling Great Sun aura also remained.

Beholding the scene before him, Xun Qu had a grave expression.

It wasn't the Demon Evil of Luyang City!

He had fought Luyang City's Demon Evil before and was very familiar with its aura. Although Yin Evil auras generally seemed similar, there were still subtle differences between Demon Evils.

Having discovered this, Xun Qu's expression turned unsightly. The Demon Evil in Luyang City was already difficult enough to handle. Now, another Demon Evil had emerged, one with extraordinary strength. From the remnants of its aura, he could ascertain its power.

A Demon Evil! At the very least, it's on the level of a Demon Evil.

What about that Demon Evil? Is it dead or alive? And what's the situation with the person who fought it? In Xun Qu's mind, one thought after another surfaced.

Looking at the current situation, he also found the circumstances somewhat unclear.

A jolt went through Xun Qu's heart. Am I too late?

If he really was late, then his troubles would be significant. A Demon Evil from Luyang City, plus another unknown Demon Evil... Forget about his current state, far from his prime; even in his heyday, he would have no choice but to flee at the sight of them.

Now, more rumbling noises came through.

Xun Qu's gaze was grave. He didn't head toward the source of the noise; instead, he stayed put and spread his Divine Sense.

He searched, meticulously probing the area. If the expert who had fought the Demon Evil wasn't dead, they might still be nearby.

As Xun Qu was searching meticulously with his Divine Sense, his Divine Sense suddenly stirred. Within the range of his Divine Sense, a powerful aura pulsed. This aura was both vast and as scorching as the Great Sun.

In an instant, his anxious heart settled considerably.

Found them!

Xun Qu took a step and headed in the direction of the aura.

In a deserted house, Shen Changqing sat cross-legged. As if sensing something, his tightly shut eyes suddenly opened.

Someone is coming!

Just now, he clearly felt a Divine Sense of moderate strength sweep over him. Immediately after, a formidable aura was closing in on him. This aura was somewhat different from the Yin Evil Aura found on Demon Evils. Shen Changqing had only felt it on a few individuals.

Defender Envoys!

Xun Qu! Instantly, he knew who the approaching person was.

Conveniently, he had just finished refining the elixirs' power, and the losses from the recent battle were mostly recovered.

Rising to his feet, he stepped out of the house. Shen Changqing saw a middle-aged man, his clothes stained with blood but his demeanor composed, rushing towards him.

As soon as he saw Xun Qu, Xun Qu also immediately laid eyes on him.

Halting his advance, this Defender Envoy from Mountain-Breaking City greeted him courteously with a fist and palm salute, "I am Xun Qu from the Demon-Subduing Division of Mountain-Breaking City. May I ask who you are?"

While speaking, he subtly sized up Shen Changqing. Seeing the other's thick black hair, a flicker of confusion crossed his eyes. People from the Myriad Buddhas Sect... Shouldn't they all be shaven-headed?

Even with the doubts in his mind, Xun Qu didn't show too much.

After he took the initiative to speak, Shen Changqing also responded with a salute, "I am Shen Changqing, an Elder of the Martial Hall in the Capital Demon Suppression Division. Greetings, Defender Xun."

The Capital Demon Suppression Division? Martial Hall Elder Shen Changqing? Xun Qu faltered for a moment.

I'm familiar with the Capital Demon Suppression Division, but when did they acquire such an expert? he thought. If I'm not mistaken, the Shen Changqing before me is a Grandmaster Peak expert, and one who has reached the pinnacle of the Physical System at that!

Wait a minute. Shen Changqing!

He recalled something, looking at the person before him with a changed gaze. "Shen Changqing... as in the one who, not too long ago in the Great Wilderness Prefecture, slew the Barbarian Clan General?"

"Past matters are better left unmentioned," Shen Changqing said with a shake of his head and a light smile.

That statement was an indirect acknowledgment. He was indeed surprised by the profound impact of the incident in the Great Wilderness Prefecture. Almost everyone he met would, upon hearing the name Shen Changqing, first think of the person who slew the Barbarian Clan General in the Great Wilderness Prefecture.

Upon confirmation, Xun Qu was shocked. It really is him!

I remember Shen Changqing was only a late-stage Grandmaster Martial Artist. But looking at him now... how is this late-stage? He's clearly at Grandmaster Peak!

Suppressing the shock in his heart, Xun Qu didn't delve further into it for the time being. So, he immediately voiced his doubts. "Was it Elder Shen who previously engaged in combat with the Demon Evil?"

"Indeed," Shen Changqing nodded. "Members of the Demon Evil Clan and the Eternal Alliance entered. I encountered them, and a fight broke out. That Demon Evil was quite strong; unfortunately, it escaped in the end. However, I did manage to take down one of the two from the Eternal Alliance."

A look of regret appeared on his face. It was genuine regret.

When he was injured, Shen Changqing hadn't thought much before finding a place to heal. Later on, once his injuries had mostly healed, he examined the changes in himself.

He couldn't believe his eyes.

On his status panel, under True Intent, it had jumped directly from twenty percent to thirty percent.

And, in his Sea of Consciousness, the phantom of the fourth petal on the blood-red lotus was almost complete.