Soul Emperor Martial God

Leaving that residential area.

Xiao Yi walked back, deep in thought.

He had heard of the Mountain God Sect.

As a Flame Martial Guard tasked with a mission in this vicinity.

He naturally needed to find out the situation here.

However, since it was his first time in Wanshan County, he didn't know much about the Mountain God Sect.

Before long.

Xiao Yi found Fang Hu.

Fang Hu, leaping around in the mist, trying to find some clues.

Seeing this, Xiao Yi shook his head.

In a big city, the ones who truly know it best are the residents.

"Chief Steward Fang Hu," Xiao Yi called out, stopping Fang Hu.

"Oh, Captain Xiao Yi," Fang Hu leaped out from a patch of mist.

"What's up? Did you find anything?"

Xiao Yi nodded and asked, "Chief Steward Fang Hu, have you heard of the Mountain God Sect?"

"The Mountain God Sect? Of course, I've heard of it." Fang Hu replied.

"It's an old major force in our Wanshan County."

Xiao Yi pressed on, "The Mountain God Sect, do they conduct sacrifices?"

Fang Hu frowned, "They do, but that's just some customs of their sect."

"From what I know, the Mountain God Sect didn't use to do this."

"Probably about a dozen years ago, they say a certain disciple of the Mountain God Sect appeared."

"And then they started performing sacrifices."

"Each year, they only capture a few living people for sacrifice, never more than 10 people."

Wanshan County, an extremely vast territory.

Surrounded by Wanshan.

Some big cities are even built within the mountains.

It's normal for ordinary people to worship the Mountain God or have some customs of their own.

Xiao Yi scoffed, "Such absurd things, and there are people who believe them?"

Fang Hu smiled and answered, "It's normal."

"In the eyes of ordinary people, a Mysterious Profundity Realm Warrior who can control the air is already like a god."

Xiao Yi asked, "Do you believe it, Chief Steward Fang Hu?"

Fang Hu chuckled, "I'm not an idiot, how could I possibly believe that?"

"However, Captain Xiao Yi, are you asking me this because you suspect the Mountain God Sect?"

"Indeed," Xiao Yi nodded.

"It's impossible," Fang Hu shook his head.

"The sacrifices of the Mountain God Sect might be customs, or perhaps their sect's faith."

"The people they capture each year are all criminals."

"For decades, they've maintained peace for this region."

"The demon beasts and mountain bandits around here have been completely eradicated by them, and they have an excellent reputation."

Xiao Yi nodded, "I hope it's just my wild guess."

"I'll wait a few more days. If the disappearances still occur frequently,"

"And if we still have no clues,"

"We will have to investigate the Mountain God Sect."

Xiao Yi continued to suspect the Mountain God Sect.

He had concluded that the events were man-made.

Today, two City Guards were suddenly abducted in the mist.

Someone was able to abduct people right in front of his eyes, their methods so eerie.

It must be a powerful warrior.

And only a major force could have such a powerful warrior.

The Mountain God Sect was located in the mountains not far from Mist City and several other big cities nearby.

Simply put, the Mountain God Sect was the closest major force to this area.

Xiao Yi naturally pointed his suspicions there.

Just at that moment, a cry of alarm disrupted Xiao Yi's thoughts.

"Captain, it's bad."

Several figures flew swiftly towards them.

It was Zhou Ping and others.

"What happened?" Xiao Yi furrowed his brows.

Zhou Ping and the others were now injured.

"Ziyang has been kidnapped in the mist," Zhou Ping said anxiously.

"What?" Xiao Yi was shocked.

Zhou Ping quickly said, "Just as you expected, Captain."

"It's not some demon beast causing trouble, but someone is behind this."

The other team members said, "We were walking side by side with Ziyang."

"Unexpectedly, just as we entered a thick fog,"

"A powerful figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere, trying to abduct several of us."

"Thankfully, we reacted quickly and dodged."

"But that person was too strong, we couldn't defeat him."

"Ziyang was captured by him."

"It was just lucky that Zhou Ping and others were patrolling nearby and encountered us."

"Together, at the cost of injuries, we managed to escape."

"Right," Zhou Ping also said, "I clearly saw."

"After capturing Ziyang, that powerful figure disappeared into the ground."

"No wonder they appeared so silently in the mist, so quickly, and disappeared so strangely."

"Can you sense what kind of strength that powerful figure was?" Xiao Yi asked seriously.

"I can't sense it, definitely stronger than us," Zhou Ping replied.

"But, according to our estimates, not much stronger."

"Probably around Mystic Breakthrough Ninth Layer."

"Mystic Breakthrough Ninth Layer." Xiao Yi furrowed his brow.

The Flame Martial Guard, each one an Elite Martial Artist.

Although Zhou Ping and the others were only at Mystic Breakthrough Seventh Layer.

But in terms of strength, they were much stronger than the external martial artists.

Though they couldn't defeat that strong adversary, they could still manage to escape.

"Follow me to the City Lord's Mansion," Xiao Yi's face turned icy, and he turned towards the City Lord's Mansion.

"The City Lord's Mansion?" Zhou Ping and the others asked in surprise, "Aren't we going to save Ziyang?"

"Do you know where Ziyang is?" Xiao Yi replied solemnly.

As soon as his words fell, Xiao Yi had already disappeared.

"Follow him." Zhou Ping and the others were startled and hurriedly followed.

Seeing this, Fang Hu frowned and immediately followed as well.

...

It wasn't long before the group arrived at the City Lord's Mansion.

Inside the City Lord's Mansion.

"I don't know who you are?" the City Lord of Mist City asked, clasping his hands together.

"Flame Martial Guard, Captain, Xiao Yi," Xiao Yi said in a deep voice.

"Flame Martial Guard?" A flicker of surprise, and an almost imperceptible panic, crossed the face of the City Lord of Mist City.

"What's wrong? You seem a bit nervous," Xiao Yi teased with a smirk.

"You're joking, Captain Xiao Yi," the City Lord chuckled awkwardly.

"Recently, the disappearances in Mist City have been giving me a headache."

"With the assistance of the Flame Martial Guard."

"I couldn't be happier."

Xiao Yi smiled faintly, "I'm afraid, City Lord, you won't be able to be happy for now."

"I am actually about to leave."

Leave?

Fang Hu was somewhat surprised.

Zhou Ping and the others furrowed their brows, not understanding Xiao Yi's meaning.

But they didn't ask further.

They knew the Captain must have a plan.

"Leaving?" A fleeting look of relief crossed the face of the City Lord of Mist City.

Instantly followed by an anxious expression, "Why are you leaving so soon?"

"The matter of Mist City is still unresolved."

"Sigh, once you all leave, Mist City will be in panic once again."

"But, the Flame Martial Guard is always burdened with heavy tasks."

"If you stay here for a long time and still cannot find any clues."

"Choosing to leave temporarily is normal, I can understand," the City Lord hastily added.

"Hehe," Xiao Yi chuckled, "City Lord, do not worry."

"My departure this time is precisely for Mist City."

"Now, by my judgement, the matters here have exceeded what we regular soldiers can handle."

"I must return to the Royal Capital."

"To bring strong experts from there to investigate."

"What?" the City Lord exclaimed in shock.

"No, no, no," the City Lord hastened to wave his hands, "Captain Xiao Yi is making a mountain out of a molehill."

"How can we trouble the strong experts from the Flame Martial Guard headquarters over a trivial matter of our Mist City?"

"I think we should forget about it."

"Forget about it?" The calm expression on Xiao Yi's face disappeared instantly.

The next second, his expression turned ice-cold.

"As the City Lord, you should be concerned about the safety of all citizens, ensuring stability."

"With such chaos in your Mist City, and thousands disappearing into thin air daily."

"If it were someone else, knowing that strong experts from the Royal Capital are coming to help, they would be overjoyed."

"And yet, you are making excuses?"

"I..." The City Lord of Mist City was at a loss for words.

"Ridiculous," Xiao Yi's aura surged forth.

"Will you speak the truth now?"

"I've already lost a team member; I have no time to waste talking with you."

"Do you need me to lock you in the Flame Martial Guard Prison before you're willing to confess?"

"No... no... I dare not," the City Lord stammered.

Xiao Yi's imposing presence firmly pressed upon the City Lord as he asked in a cold voice, "Did you already know about the disappearances?"

"Was it the doing of the Mountain God Sect?"

"Yes," the City Lord replied, trembling.

"Why did you conceal it?" Xiao Yi shouted coldly.

"I... I... I..." The City Lord stuttered.

Xiao Yi's eyes flashed with a murderous intent, "You still dare to conceal it."

"Ridiculous, I have no time to deal with you now."

"When I return, we will settle this slowly."

Saying so, Xiao Yi turned around and said, "Let's go."

Zhou Ping and the others hesitated, "Captain, where to?"

"Mountain God Sect," Xiao Yi stated coldly.

...