Soul Emperor Martial God

The Demon Hunting Palace Law Enforcement Team scrutinized Xiao Yi and his group.

"You aren't Martial Artists from Mist City."

"Who are you?"

The affairs of Mist City had recently stirred up much commotion.

Ordinary people, to avoid trouble, would rather take a detour.

Yet, Xiao Yi's group, numbering 11 people, made a grand appearance at the city gates.

Naturally, this aroused the vigilance of the Law Enforcement Team.

"Flame Martial Guard," Xiao Yi replied, taking out his Token.

The Law Enforcement Team glanced at it and said, "Indeed, it is the Flame Martial Token."

"You look so unfamiliar."

"Not like the Flame Martial Guards from the Wanshan County stronghold."

"We're from Meteor County," Xiao replied.

"Meteor County? So, you're the Flame Martial Guards patrolling the various counties," the leading member of the Law Enforcement Team nodded.

"I am Fang Hu, the Chief Steward of the Wanshan County Demon Hunting Hall."

Xiao Yi greeted with a bow, returning the courtesy.

"Presumably, you're also here to investigate the disappearances in Mist City," Fang Hu said.

"Indeed," Xiao Yi nodded.

"How's the situation now? Did you find anything?"

"Alas," Fang Hu sighed, "we simply don't know where to begin our search."

"Instead, the situation is becoming more and more severe."

"In the entire city, every day there are thousands of people who vanish into the white fog."

"Among them, there are Martial Artists."

"Thousands of people?" Zhou Ping and the others were startled.

"The situation is so grave, and you haven't found anything?"

"Alas," Fang Hu sighed again, "let's go into the city first, and talk as we walk."

The group entered Mist City.

Indeed, the city was shrouded in white as far as the eye could see.

Vision was limited to only about ten meters in radius.

"As you can see," Fang Hu said.

"The white fog is everywhere, filled with ghosts that move silently and invisibly."

"Firstly, we from the Demon Hunting Palace Law Enforcement Team aren't adept at investigating these matters."

"Secondly, we are considerably short-handed."

"Mist City is a large city, and we have only a dozen people, not enough to handle this."

"Is it not said that after your Law Enforcement Team arrived, no more people disappeared?" Xiao Yi frowned and asked.

Fang Hu shook his head and said, "That was spread deliberately to calm the public's mind."

"The situation hasn't eased at all; on the contrary, it has intensified."

"But according to our speculation, it should be the work of demon beasts."

"Hmm?" Suddenly, Xiao Yi's eyes turned cold.

Fang Hu and the others also frowned, "Such a strong presence of a demon beast."

Ahead in the mist, suddenly there came a surge of demon beast presence.

"It's indeed a demon beast, take it down."

The Law Enforcement Team immediately took action.

Xiao Yi was even faster, unleashing a Sword Qi with a flick of his wrist.

However, the Sword Qi entered the fog and disappeared without a trace.

By the time everyone moved into the fog ahead, the presence of the demon beast had already vanished.

"Disperse," Xiao Yi shouted loudly.

His body surged with True Qi, scattering the surrounding white fog.

Hidden within had been a patrol of City Guards.

"Hmm?" The City Guards, seeing the fog dissipate and several people suddenly appearing before them, were startled.

When they recognized it was Fang Hu, they said, "So it is the distinguished gentlemen from the Demon Hunting Hall."

"What's the matter?"

Fang Hu frowned and said, "Didn't you notice anything amiss in the fog just now?"

"No," the City Guards shook their heads, "we patrol like this every day, we're used to it."

"Eh?" Suddenly, one of the City Guards cried out in confusion, "Where are Third and Fourth?"

"They've disappeared again, disappeared again."

The City Guards suddenly looked panicked.

"The Fog Demon is causing trouble again, and at any time, it could be our turn."

Inside Mist City, there were widespread rumors that those who vanished mysteriously in the white fog were taken by the Fog Demon.

"Calm down," Fang Hu scolded.

"With our Law Enforcement Team here, what demon beast would dare to be presumptuous?"

"Now that the Flame Martial Guard has arrived, peace will be restored to Mist City within a few days."

"Continue your patrol."

The City Guards steadied their nerves, still shaken, and continued their patrol.

"Captain Xiao Yi, you saw," Fang Hu said.

"We don't even know what kind of demon beast it could be, it's so bizarre."

"It can abduct people right under our watch."

"This matter has exceeded our capabilities to deal with."

"If it weren't for your Flame Martial Guard arriving today,"

"I would certainly be reporting to the County Capital Demon Hunting Hall, requesting the Sub Hall Master to come."

"It's not a demon beast," Xiao Yi frowned and shook his head.

"Not a demon beast?" Fang Hu was taken aback.

"Yes," Xiao Yi nodded, "although I couldn't see clearly what's in the white fog."

"But I can't be wrong in my perception."

"There's obviously the presence of Martial Artists beneath the recent demon beast aura."

"Impossible," said a Law Enforcement Team member beside Fang Hu.

"Captain Xiao Yi, that dense demon beast aura earlier couldn't have been faked."

"In terms of pursuit and investigation, we can't compare to your Flame Martial Guard."

"But when it comes to understanding demon beasts, you can't match us from the Demon Hunting Palace Law Enforcement Team, who deal with demon beasts every day."

"To put it bluntly,"

"When we became Demon Hunters, Captain Xiao Yi didn't even know where he was."

Xiao Yi shook his head, "Believe it or not, that's up to you."

"That was definitely not a demon beast."

"If it really were a demon beast that had snuck into human territory, how could it dare to be so brazen and let its aura leak out like that?"

The Law Enforcement Team member said, "Maybe that demon beast has low spiritual intelligence and doesn't know how to conceal its aura."

Xiao Yi chuckled disdainfully, "Low spiritual intelligence and still able to pull off such strange tactics?"

"And it's gone undetected for several consecutive days?"

"This..." The Law Enforcement Team member was momentarily at a loss for words.

Xiao Yi spoke solemnly, "Regardless, since we're without a lead now."

"We must ensure the safety of the people in the city as much as possible and reduce the number of disappearances."

"Zhou Ping, you three will team up and patrol within the city."

"Ziyang, you're the weakest, you will join them to make up a group of four."

"Remember, do not split up, you must stick together at all times."

"Yes," Zhou Ping and the others nodded.

Ten people split into three teams and headed off in three different directions.

Seeing this, Fang Hu also said, "You guys go patrol as well."

"Form groups of three."

Fang Hu was the Chief Steward of the Wanshan County Demon Hunting Hall with a cultivation at the Earth Element Third Layer.

His subordinates, nearly all of them, were uniformly at the Mystic Breakthrough Seventh and Eighth Layers.

"Captain Xiao Yi, I'll also split up and investigate," Fang Hu said.

"Okay," Xiao Yi nodded.

...

The group dispersed from one another.

Xiao Yi was alone, frowning.

The happenings within Mist City were man-made.

He felt an even worse premonition in his heart.

It wasn't long before

Xiao Yi, all by himself, unknowingly arrived at a residential area.

Every household had its doors tightly shut.

The few that were open were homes of the elderly.

Xiao Yi approached and asked, "Excuse me, elder..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the old man was startled.

"Whoa, which family's child are you, daring to walk out like this? Go back quickly."

The old man, his face showing worry, glanced around a few times, and hastily pulled Xiao Yi into his home.

Then, he quickly closed the door.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Yi asked, frowning.

"What's wrong?" The old man said irritably, "You child are quite bold."

"Aren't you afraid of being captured by the Mountain God?"

"Mountain God?" Xiao Yi looked puzzled.

"I thought it was the Fog Demon?"

"Silly boy, there is no such thing as a Fog Demon," the old man said with irritation, "It's all the work of the Mountain God."

"Our Wanshan County is surrounded by mountains."

"With the Mountain God's blessing, how could there be Fog Demons?"

Xiao Yi, still puzzled, asked, "If it's the Mountain God, why would it capture people in the fog?"

"Ah," the old man sighed, "The Mountain God needs sacrifices every year."

"Of course, some people need to be captured; it's been that way for decades."

"Decades?" Xiao Yi was slightly taken aback.

"Uh-huh." The old man nodded, "But this year, especially these days,"

"The Mountain God's appetite has suddenly grown, and more people are being captured, nearly a thousand people every day."

"However, the Mountain God also keeps our Mist City peaceful."

"Other big cities often have Beast Tides, but our Mist City has never suffered from one, everyone lives in peace and happiness."

As he spoke, the old man's face was full of reverence.

Indeed, Mist City had never experienced a Beast Tide.

Though its commerce wasn't developed and it couldn't be considered prosperous, people still lived in peace and happiness.

Speaking of which, the old man said, "Once this year is over, starting next year, I reckon there won't be as many disappearances."

"Ah, this year, it's just a matter of which family is unlucky."

"If a child catches the Mountain God's eye, they're gone."

It was obvious that the old man had a saddened expression.

"It seems like you must be the unlucky one," Xiao Yi said gravely.

The old man nodded, "Yesterday, my child disappeared in the white fog."

"But being liked by the Mountain God might also be a blessing for him."

Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Yesterday, you say? Perhaps your child can return."

With that, Xiao Yi turned and left the house.

Behind him, the old man called out anxiously, "Child, be careful, don't wander outside; hurry home."

Xiao Yi nodded, turned the corner, and his expression instantly became solemn.

"Mountain God... it must be the Mountain God Sect," Xiao Yi murmured to himself.

"Mist City's City Lord, are you simply too afraid to investigate, or can you really not uncover the truth?"

...

Third update.