Chapter 402 - 172: Three Branches of the Demon Sect

Chapter 402: Chapter 172: Three Branches of the Demon Sect

Over mountains and across rivers.

The setting sun was like blood.

After the better part of a day’s journey, Fang Xing arrived within the borders of Celestial Star Prefecture.

In Celestial Star Prefecture, Fang Xing stood on a hillside just outside a County Town, gazing at the settlement not far away.

As he scanned with his Golden Eyes of Truth, he could clearly see the Evil Qi suffusing the air above the city.

It mixed with the fires of mortal life, tangling with the Evil Qi.

The blazing fires of mortal life were already more than halfway consumed by the Evil Qi.

Looking at the nearby County Town, Fang Xing’s gaze turned toward the southern part of the city.

According to the intelligence he had gathered, this County Town was already under the control of the Blood Demon Sect.

The local County Magistrate had been reduced to a mere puppet of the Blood Demon Sect.

And the Blood Demon Sect’s stronghold was hidden somewhere in the city’s south.

As for the specifics, he would have to investigate in person.

After clearing his mind of the intel, Fang Xing immediately moved out.

Beneath the setting sun, his figure vanished from the spot like a ghost.

Wreathed in Gang Qi, Fang Xing slipped into the County Town without a sound.

In the southern district of the city were several streets.

Fang Xing materialized within a large tree at a street corner, his figure concealed by the dense foliage.

Nearby, the calls of street vendors hawking their wares rose and fell in waves.

The scene gave no indication that it was under the control of a Demon Sect.

At least on the surface, it seemed no different from any other normal County Town.

A Demon Sect’s way of doing things was different from that of Demons and Monsters.

When Demons and Monsters take over, it’s indiscriminate slaughter.

Whether old or young, woman or child, commoner or Martial Artist—in the eyes of Demons and Monsters, all are merely food.

Demon Sects, however, acted with at least some semblance of order. After all, controlling a County Town meant they could profit from it and benefit themselves.

If they massacred the entire city, there would be no benefit. Instead, it would attract the attention of the Court, which would suppress them with full force.

The Demon Path Upper Sects, within the Great Jing Realm, were ultimately just rats hiding in the shadows.

From his perch in the treetop, Fang Xing scanned the streets below, then closed his eyes and immediately began his Primordial Spirit Projection.

Under his Primordial Spirit Projection, the entire situation across the several streets unfolded in his mind’s eye. He could clearly perceive every detail, from the people walking about down to a single ant crawling on the ground.

’Found it!’

Very quickly, his Primordial Spirit Projection locked onto a nearby mansion.

On the surface, it looked ordinary, if a bit luxurious. But with his Primordial Spirit Projection, he could see everything within.

His Golden Eyes of Truth pierced through the facade, revealing the pervasive Evil Qi.

’One at True Qi Perfection, and the rest are just at Neutralizing Force.’

Fang Xing’s brow furrowed.

’This is completely different from what I expected.’

’It’s off by a long shot.’

’Not a single True Gang expert.’

’A mosquito is small, but it’s still meat. I should be able to get some solid leads from these guys.’

After a moment’s consideration, Fang Xing’s figure vanished. In the next instant, he appeared within the mansion’s courtyard.

An invisible layer of Gang Qi covered the entire mansion, instantly sealing it off.

With a single thought, the Cyan Flame Transformation Sword shot out in the next instant.

Its Sword Qi, imbued with the Sun Golden Flame, attacked indiscriminately.

In the space of a few short breaths, the entire mansion was swept clean. The sole survivor was the leader, the one at True Qi Perfection.

SWOOSH—!

With a single step, Fang Xing arrived before the study.

The study door swung open on its own. Just as he stepped inside, the sharp sound of air being torn asunder erupted.

A vicious gust of wind from a fist tore through the air as a massive fist, fast as lightning, came crashing toward him.

THUD!

But in the next second, Fang Xing’s hand shot out and clamped down on the fist, holding it in a steel-like grip, rendering it completely immobile.

Looking up, he saw a middle-aged man in Brocade Clothing, his face a mask of pure horror.

"True... True Gang!"

Staring at Fang Xing, his eyes filled with terror. He struggled with all his might to retract his fist, but it wouldn’t budge an inch.

"Who... Who might you be?"

The man in Brocade Clothing forcibly suppressed his panic and asked the question.

HUMMM—!

Fang Xing had no intention of wasting words on him. A dark light flickered in his pupils as he instantly activated his Divine Illusion.

The man in Brocade Clothing was brought under his control on the spot.

His expression turned vacant and wooden.

"What is your name?"

"Chen Ye."

"What is your position in the Blood Demon Sect?"

"Outer Sect Steward."

"Who do you report to?"

"Elder Xu of Celestial Profound Peak."

’Elder Xu...’

’Looks like I’ve hooked a big one!’ Hearing this, Fang Xing’s eyes lit up.

"What is Elder Xu’s cultivation level?"

"True Gang Perfection!"

...

Through the interrogation, Fang Xing quickly obtained the information he wanted.

From this Outer Sect Steward, he gained a rough understanding of the Blood Demon Sect’s overall deployment.

There were three major Blood Demon Sect forces operating in the area!

The Celestial Profound Peak branch of the Blood Demon Sect was just one of those forces.

The other two Demon Sect forces came from two other branches of the Blood Demon Sect.

In total, the Blood Demon Sect had nine branches!

The power of each branch was immense.

Though all three forces hailed from the Blood Demon Sect, they were not a unified whole; each operated independently.

Each force had its own network of strongholds.

Each stronghold was responsible for collecting varying numbers of young boys and girls, using them to power their evil cultivation techniques and achieve breakthroughs.

From the Outer Sect Steward, he learned that the Celestial Profound Peak branch had approximately nine strongholds.

Each stronghold was overseen by an expert at True Qi Perfection who handled its specific operations.

Contact was strictly one-way; the higher-ups would only reach out when necessary. Even for an Outer Sect Steward like him, contact was only initiated by his superiors.

And the core of the Celestial Profound Peak branch’s operations was right inside Celestial Star Prefecture City.

The other two branches were also based in Celestial Star Prefecture City.

Ostensibly, the leaders of the three branches were all at the True Gang Perfection level of cultivation. That meant there were at least three True Gang Perfection experts.

As for whether there were other hidden powers, that was beyond the knowledge of a minor steward like him.

’Looks like I’ll have to change my strategy. I need to solve the problem in the Prefecture City first.’

’Then I can clean up the other strongholds.’

The thought flashed through Fang Xing’s mind. He had initially planned to dismantle them piece by piece, but time was not on his side.

Eliminating one or two strongholds might not raise any alarms, but by the time he cleared all of them, the three branch headquarters in the Prefecture City would surely have been alerted.

In this situation, the ’dismantling them piece by piece’ approach would undoubtedly alert the enemy.

’First, take down the headquarters, then quickly clean up the remaining strongholds.’

’Yes, that’s the plan.’