Chapter 151: The Situation Escalates

Seeing this scene, Shangguan Ming fell into complete despair.

At this moment, he had lost an arm, was heavily injured, and the true essence within his body was completely depleted.

He was even no longer able to continue manipulating the fire ghost gourd to defend against the enemy.

Now, the two people who could have saved his life directly abandoned him and fled for their own lives.

Shangguan Ming could be said to be dead without a doubt at this moment.

Just in the next moment, paying no heed to Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing and Shangguan Ming who were fleeing desperately, the Python-Robed Zombie rapidly arrived right in front of Shangguan Ming, and then brought its blade down in a vertical slash towards Shangguan Ming.

"Roar!"

A flash of blade light swept past, and Shangguan Ming's despairing expression instantly froze on his face.

Immediately after, a massive amount of blood sprayed out from Shangguan Ming's body, and then his severed corpse fell directly toward the ground.

The fire ghost gourd that Shangguan Ming had been firmly gripping in his hand instantly shattered the moment Shangguan Ming died in battle.

The pillar of the Shangguan Family thus died inexplicably in this underground space.

Before Shangguan Ming's corpse could fall to the ground, the Python-Robed Zombie directly took a fierce breath toward Shangguan Ming's remains.

Shangguan Ming's blood, Soul fragments, and the dissipating true essence all transformed into two streams of Qi, which were completely sucked into the body of the Python-Robed Zombie through its two nostrils.

Leaving only two broken corpse halves that had lost all their essence to fall powerlessly onto the ground.

After absorbing all the flesh and blood essence from Shangguan Ming's body, the Evil Qi on the Python-Robed Zombie's body grew even stronger.

Its two blood-red eyes at this moment seemed as if two blood-colored flames were burning within them.

"Roar!"

The Python-Robed Zombie let out an angry roar towards the sky, and then directly transformed into a stream of light radiating soaring Evil Qi, continuing to pursue in the direction where Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing and Sect Master Li Changtian were fleeing.

However, when the Python-Robed Zombie killed Shangguan Ming, Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing and Sect Master Li Changtian were originally not far from the exit of this underground space.

At this moment, they had already entered the passage leaving this underground space.

Under the circumstances of the two fleeing with all their might, the underground passage was quickly traversed by them, and they rapidly arrived above ground.

The instant Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing and Sect Master Li Changtian arrived above ground, the Python-Robed Zombie also rushed into the exit passage of this underground space at that moment.

However, when this Python-Robed Zombie arrived at the exit of the underground space passage, it did not directly rush above ground.

It was as if this Python-Robed Zombie was dreading something.

At this moment, this Python-Robed Zombie was seen letting out a roar of unwillingness toward the direction where Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing and Sect Master Li Changtian fled.

After a moment, having no other choice, the Python-Robed Zombie had no choice but to retreat back into this underground space.

And then returned to that Zombie City.

This underground space once again restored its former silence, with only patches of continuously drifting gray mist still filling this underground space.

After escaping this place of certain death, Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing and Sect Master Li Changtian both let out a soft breath as if having survived a disaster.

Seeing that the Python-Robed Zombie did not chase them out, Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing and Sect Master Li Changtian instantly stopped their fleeing figures at that moment.

The two looked at each other, their hearts filled with a myriad of mixed emotions for a moment, not knowing what exactly they should say.

Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing and Sect Master Li Changtian—one for treasure hunting, and the other to annihilate a Baihuo Cult branch so as to gain merits and receive promotions and rewards within the Town Demon Guard.

Yet the events that happened in between completely exceeded the expectations of the two.

So much that the two narrowly escaped death in that underground space, exhausting all their skills and abilities before barely managing to escape with their lives.

However, compared to Sect Master Li Changtian, Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing had much better luck.

At least the Town Demon Guard under Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing had already escaped a step ahead of Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing at this moment, without suffering too many casualties.

Moreover, the purpose of Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing's trip could be considered basically fulfilled.

Although Leader Yu Yang of this Baihuo Cult was not directly killed by Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing, he ultimately died at the hands of the Python-Robed Zombie.

Which could be considered as dying indirectly at the hands of Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing.

As for the remaining ordinary Baihuo Cult rebels, under the suppression and slaughter of the other Town Demon Guards, more than half were wiped out.

The remaining small fraction all scattered and fled at this moment, no one knowing where they ran off to.

However, the escape of those small fries was no longer important.

This remnant of the Baihuo Cult could now be considered completely crippled, and Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing would also be able to advance further within the Town Demon Guard based on this merit.

According to Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing's own speculation, this merit concerning the rebel Baihuo Cult, to say the least, should have no major problems in transferring him away from the small, desolate county town of Qinghe County.

Although Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing narrowly escaped death in this operation, at least the purpose of Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing's trip was basically achieved.

But Sect Master Li Changtian was going to be much more unfortunate.

Not only did he almost perish in that underground space, but even the elite Martial Artists of the Qingdan Sect that he brought all died in that Zombie City.

And the true spirit artifact he wanted to obtain, which was ranked on the chaos myriad spirits ranking, was not even touched by him at all.

The Qingdan Sect paid a huge price for this trip and suffered heavy losses in Origin Qi, yet gained nothing.

This left Sect Master Li Changtian's heart with an indescribable feeling of bitterness.

However, at this moment, besides bitterness, Sect Master Li Changtian also felt a sense of fortune—at least he survived leaving that underground space on this trip.

While his old friend Shangguan Ming remained there forever.

"Brother Lü, mountains are high and waters are long; Li bids you farewell here!"

After a moment of silence, Sect Master Li Changtian said to Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing with a complex expression on his face, cupping his fists.

Looking at the somewhat disheveled Sect Master Li Changtian, Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing did not know what to say for a moment.

He could only cup his fists towards Sect Master Li Changtian and say:

"Take care, Brother Li!"

Seeing this, Sect Master Li Changtian said no more; instead, with a light stamp of his foot, his entire body instantly sped away in the direction of the Qingdan Sect's encampment.

Drastic changes had occurred among the three major factions of Qinghe County in that underground space, and within all three major factions, there was a huge mess of matters waiting to be dealt with.

Seeing Sect Master Li Changtian leave, Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing did not stay long in these Wuling Mountains.

Instead, he turned and headed towards the Town Demon Guard encampment in Qinghe County.

With the return of Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing and Sect Master Li Changtian, the events that took place in that underground space also spread completely throughout Qinghe County.

Especially the death of Shangguan Ming, which shocked the entire Qinghe County.

As for the other piece of news, it was even more shocking than Shangguan Ming's death, because according to the speculation of those who came out alive, that Python-Robed Zombie…

It was very likely a Spirit-Parasitized Body parasitized by a true spirit artifact.

However, although true spirit artifacts were very rare, some lucky ranked Martial Artists still had quite a few opportunities to obtain them.

But this Python-Robed Zombie was not that simple.

Because if this Python-Robed Zombie was a Spirit-Parasitized Body parasitized by a true spirit artifact, then what level had the true spirit artifact that parasitized this Python-Robed Zombie actually reached?

You must know that this Python-Robed Zombie had chased and killed four mid-to-Late Stage Rank 7 Martial Artists.

Furthermore, each of these four Rank 7 Martial Artists possessed extremely formidable strength, especially Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing; even an ordinary Early Stage Rank 6 Martial Artist might not necessarily be a match for Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing.

Yet these four top powerhouses in Qinghe County were chased scurrying like stray dogs by a Python-Robed Zombie.

In the end, only two managed to escape from the hands of that Python-Robed Zombie.

Under such circumstances, an ordinary Spirit-Parasitized Body would absolutely be unable to achieve this.

After all, a Spirit-Parasitized Body parasitized by a true spirit artifact was just like a beast with only strength, not knowing any martial arts Moves.

Moreover, the Spirit-Parasitized Body could not unleash much of the true spirit artifact's power and some of its eerie abilities.

Yet even so, that Python-Robed Zombie beat four top-tier Rank 7 Martial Artists until they fled in panic, resulting in two deaths and two injuries.

If this Python-Robed Zombie was a Spirit-Parasitized Body, then the true spirit artifact that parasitized this Python-Robed Zombie had to be at least a formidable true spirit artifact ranked on the chaos myriad spirits ranking.

As soon as this speculation came out, it instantly stirred up a huge uproar in Qinghe County.

Up and down Qinghe County instantly plunged into a strange atmosphere.

Under this eerie atmosphere, even some conceited Martial Artists, blinded by greed and disregarding the danger in that underground space, sneaked towards that underground space.

However, those bold and reckless people who did not know death, after entering that underground space, never returned.

After several waves of people entered like this, it completely frightened the remaining restless people.

Ever since then, no more fools dared to enter that underground space filled with gray mist.

However, in this world, there was not just a tiny Qinghe County.

Furthermore, the preciousness of a true spirit artifact ranked on the chaos myriad spirits ranking far exceeded the imagination of all Martial Artists in Qinghe County.

As the information spread outward, powerful Martial Artists, upon learning that a true spirit artifact ranked on the chaos myriad spirits ranking might exist in Qinghe County, immediately converged in the direction of Qinghe County.

Powerhouses from other counties within Yuntai Commandery, powerhouses from other commanderies in Yunzhou, and even powerhouses from Yunzhou's provincial capital rushed over upon hearing the news.

A large number of martial arts experts were rapidly converging towards Qinghe County, this small and remote county town.

After learning that all clan members who went to that underground space had died in battle, the Shangguan Family directly abandoned all interests of the Family in Qinghe County.

They even yielded the Family ancestral land, and the entire Family, three days later, completely transferred outward away from Qinghe County.

It seemed that there were still sensible people existing within this Shangguan Family.

After their Family power was severely damaged and most of their Martial Artists died in battle, they decisively and directly abandoned everything within Qinghe County city.

To preserve the Family, they even transferred the Family directly to other places.

However, although the Shangguan Family's approach was considered decisive, the Shangguan Family had offended too many factions over the years, and too many people did not want the Shangguan Family to transfer out so smoothly.

Quite a few Martial Artists, like hungry wolves hidden in the dark, closely followed in the dark behind the Shangguan Family's transferring procession.

Just waiting for the moment to arrive to rush up directly and completely slaughter this former one of Qinghe County's three major factions.

As for the Qingdan Sect, it was a bit better; although the Martial Artists that Sect Master Li Changtian of the Qingdan Sect brought into that underground space all lost their lives in that Zombie City.

But at least Sect Master Li Changtian, the Sect Master of the Qingdan Sect, escaped safely.

Although the Qingdan Sect suffered heavy losses after this battle, with Sect Master Li Changtian, a Rank 7 Martial Artist, holding down the fort, ordinary petty people still dared not provoke the Qingdan Sect's tiger whiskers.

However, after Sect Master Li Changtian's return, the Qingdan Sect also directly closed off its mountain gates.

Although a large amount of interests was vacated in Qinghe County due to the Shangguan Family's flight, the Qingdan Sect had no intention of competing for them at all.

Instead, like an injured wild wolf, it silently licked its own wounds.

As for the Town Demon Guard, it was also somewhat eerily calm at this moment.

It was as if the surging winds and clouds within this Qinghe County city had little to do with this one of Qinghe County's three major factions that suffered no great losses.

Especially Town-Demon Envoy Lü Qing; ever since returning from that underground space, he had not managed the affairs within the Qinghe County Demon Suppression Guard at all.

Regarding the encounters in that underground space, he did not even mention them.

He was just organizing some data by himself, and continuously dispatching trusted aides, traveling multiple times between Yuntai Commandery's commandery city and Qinghe County.

He even personally took action several times, carrying a large amount of gold and silver treasures to the prefecture city.

Seeing this scene, the crowd of Town Demon Guards in Qinghe County guessed privately that their Lord Town Demon Envoy acting in this manner…

If nothing unexpected happened, it seemed he was about to get a promotion.

Although the Town Demon Guard had also encountered considerable danger in that underground space.

But in the end, they had turned peril into safety; more importantly, that group of Baihuo Cult rebels, after their leader and most of their adherents died in that underground space, had completely disintegrated.

As a result, the great merit of eliminating this remnant of the Baihuo Cult naturally fell upon Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing.

Coupled with Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing traveling multiple times to Yuntai Commandery's commandery city these past few days and constantly greasing the palms up and down.

The crowd of Town Demon Guards all guessed that their Lord Town Demon Envoy should not be far from a promotion.

However, Town-Demon Envoy Lü Qing's promotion was also a good thing for the crowd of Town Demon Guards in Qinghe County.

Because once Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing was promoted and left the Qinghe County Demon Suppression Guard, the position of Qinghe County's Town Demon Envoy would become vacant.

In this way, they, these Town Demon Guards, would have an opportunity to advance further.

However, the low-strength Town Demon Guards, although extremely covetous of this Town Demon Envoy position.

But they themselves knew that with their own strength, they were not worthy of sitting in this position.

The ones who had the opportunity to sit in this position, apart from those four Deputy Town Demon Envoys, were only the newly-promoted Rank 8 Martial Artist realm Chu Lin and Sun Xuan these two people.