As soon as these words were spoken, the governor's brow furrowed sharply like a carved blade.

"What do you mean by that?"

This battle has already determined the victory, and if the Hall Master could be slain, it would be a complete triumph, heralding true peace for Lingzhou.

But Zhao Wuhuan's phrase "leave it to those in need" was full of intriguing implications.

Zhao Wuhuan gently brushed his sleeve, his voice as cold as a chilly pond: "The matter of the Yang Elixir is far more complicated than you and I had anticipated, the power struggles within the Xunyang Prefecture are not as simple as you might imagine."

The governor's eyebrows furrowed even deeper: "Explain it clearly."

"You..." Zhao Wuhuan shook his head with a bitter smile: "You're just so straightforward, no wonder the teacher isn't fond of you."

"Leave the Hall Master for Qin An to pursue."

No sooner had he spoken than a crystalline thread appeared out of thin air, flicked by his fingertip.

Seeing this, the governor's pupils contracted sharply: "Tracking Thread, this is a one-time treasure, you actually dare to use it?"

Zhao Wuhuan snorted with a laugh: "I've explained so clearly, yet you still haven't understood?"

The governor shook his head slightly.

Zhao Wuhuan sighed: "Although Qin An has made great merits in this battle, it is still insufficient as foundation, only by slaying the Hall Master and cooperating with the Medicine King's affair with our recommendation can this help him get through this ordeal."

The governor could not hide his shock: "Just because of this, you even used the Tracking Thread, do you really value him that much?"

Zhao Wuhuan stood with hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering: "I admire those pure people who slay demons and exterminate evil, the power struggles in Xunyang Prefecture are too intense, such a genuine childlike nature is truly rare, hence my intention to recruit."

As soon as these words were spoken, the governor understood.

"With your assistance, Qin An's situation in Xunyang Prefecture might improve."

Zhao Wuhuan hinted: "Improve? Quite the opposite, the teacher's presence in Xunyang Prefecture is bringing attention, bringing back someone like Qin An right now is uncertain if it will be fortune or misfortune."

The governor pondered Zhao Wuhuan's words carefully, remaining silent.

Back then, precisely because he was inexperienced with manipulation, he left Xunyang Prefecture and came to Lingzhou.

Now Zhao Wuhuan's words have hidden meanings, making him feel as though he's in a fog.

Zhao Wuhuan spoke no more, turned and walked toward the distant battlefield.

In the night wind came his final whisper.

"The teacher was indeed right about you, you are indeed only suited for this pure land of Lingzhou."

The governor watched his senior brother's departing figure, contemplated for a moment before shaking off miscellaneous thoughts, and strode to catch up.

...

On the battlefield, corpses lay everywhere.

The bodies of monsters and the mountain patrol officers were piled up, the blood soaked the land into a dark red hue.

Although this battle was brutal, due to the disparity in strength, all the demons in the Demon Hall were exterminated.

Qin An wiped away the congealed blood from his saber, casually tossed aside a piece of monster fur, counting the spoils of this battle.

Including the earlier kills of the Gui Cang, Jade Bone Realm monsters, he had accumulated fifteen demon crystals, enough to advance several Pulse Condensation Realm cultivation techniques to a higher level.

"But it's still far from enough." Qin An mused inwardly.

To forge a Supreme True Elixir, eight hundred demon crystals are required.

He was still far from reaching that number.

Li was wrapping his arm with a bandage, but the blood continued to seep out.

Even the patrol gold officer was heavily wounded in this battle.

The ghastly wound on Dongfang Mo's chest, though not fatal, was alarming to behold.

The mountain patrol officers silently rose to collect their fallen comrades' bodies.

Seeing this situation, Qin An felt solemn in his heart.

The words that mountain patrol officers don't end well were not just empty talk.

These fallen warriors all gave their lives for the peace of Lingzhou.

After a brief contemplation, Qin An also slowly stood up, assisting his colleagues in gathering the bodies of the deceased, piling them together.

These were fearless warriors who all sacrificed their lives for the peace of Lingzhou.

Looking at the mountain-like pile of bodies before him, Qin An for the first time felt a mistaken sense of shared destiny.

He reached out to close the eyes of one fallen patrol officer, just as he was about to rise, he heard footsteps nearby.

Although the battle was over, many patrol officers did not let down their guard.

The sound of footsteps prompted an instant alert, blades were drawn, ready for battle.

When it became clear who was approaching, the patrol officers finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The governor and Zhao Wuhuan arrived side by side, walking straight towards Qin An.

Many patrol officers kept their gaze fixed on the pair.

Each time the two passed, they bowed their heads in salute.

Qin An's gaze was indifferent, but his sight remained fixed on Zhao Wuhuan, a thought forming in his mind.

"Is this the person sent to secretly investigate me?"

He could clearly feel the pressure emanating from Zhao Wuhuan, an Outer Elixir Realm expert, deep and unyielding like a mountain.

For someone in the Outer Elixir Realm, the gap from the Pulse Condensation Realm was immense.

But with the governor nearby, Qin An knew that perhaps this senior brother wasn't here to cause trouble.

And sure enough, when Zhao Wuhuan and the governor approached Qin An, before the governor could speak, Zhao Wuhuan extended a round bead into Qin An's hand.

Examining the bead, Qin An discovered an invisible thread connecting it into the distance, with a faint trace of evil qi attached to it.

"What is this?" Qin An asked.

"The thread's other end is connected to the escaping Hall Master." Zhao Wuhuan replied blandly: "He fell to Pulse Condensation Realm after exploding his Demon Pill, go claim his head."

Upon hearing this, Qin An lightly gripped the bead, the Cold Star Saber clanged as it was unsheathed: "All right."

Without any wasteful words, he hadn't finished speaking before he exhibited the Dragon Roar Wind Shadow Step, vanishing like a ghost into the distance.

Heifeng stood not far from Qin An, approached Zhao Wuhuan, and saluted: "Humble officer greets the lord."

At this moment, even Heifeng had several wounds deep to the bone.

But compared to Qin An's earlier demeanor, Heifeng suddenly felt that the injury on him was a minor issue.

Though Zhao Wuhuan was not a top authority in Xunyang Prefecture, he was at least an Outer Elixir Realm expert.

Just now Zhao Wuhuan gave Qin An a task, Qin An should have at least exchanged pleasantries.

But unexpectedly, Qin An just said a simple "All right," and left with the Straight Blade.

This was the best opportunity to build a relationship with Zhao Wuhuan, Heifeng couldn't understand why Qin An simply left.

Zhao Wuhuan took in Heifeng's expression, shook his head slightly, and asked the governor: "What do you see in my subordinate?"

The All-Province Chief thought for a moment and said, "I can't understand it."

"He must be surprised at this moment, wondering why Qin An isn't seizing the opportunity to attach himself," Zhao Wuhuan paced and said, "It's common in the Evil Extermination Bureau of Lingzhou, but in Xunyang Prefecture... even my closest subordinates think this way."

The All-Province Chief understood upon hearing this, sighed, and bitterly smiled, "Just as the teacher said, the Evil Extermination Bureau is also a part of the court, which is why I dislike this atmosphere."

"It's precisely because Qin An is so decisive that I'm even more willing to assist him." Zhao Wuhuan's gaze was deep, "Not just for you, but also for his sincere heart in slaying demons and exterminating devils."

Heifeng listened to Zhao Wuhuan and the All-Province Chief's words, cold sweat continuously flowing down.

He did have such thoughts just now, but never expected they would displease Zhao Wuhuan, and fear gradually grew in his heart.

Zhao Wuhuan patted Heifeng on the shoulder and said, "Don't mind it, you are still my trusted aide; everyone has their own way of living. You chose the way of Xunyang Prefecture, and Qin An chose his way."

With these words, Heifeng finally calmed his emotions slightly.

The All-Province Chief took two steps forward and ordered, "Continue to clean the battlefield."

After this, it was no longer their concern.

Hall Master's head was for Qin An to claim.

All the Mountain Patrol Lieutenants nodded in unison, silently piling their comrades' corpses together.

Until all the corpses were piled up, the All-Province Chief slowly moved forward, carrying the halberd on his back.

All the Mountain Patrol Lieutenants silently stood behind the All-Province Chief, their expressions extremely solemn.

The All-Province Chief raised his right fist to his chest and bowed.

The rest of the Mountain Patrol Lieutenants did the same.

Each Mountain Patrol Lieutenant was extremely solemn.

"From today on, Lingzhou shall enjoy peace," The All-Province Chief's voice was hoarse, "Your families will be well taken care of by the Evil Extermination Bureau, and in this prosperous world, your heroic names shall be everlasting."

"Rest in peace, comrades!"

All the Mountain Patrol Lieutenants looked up in unison at the pile of corpses ahead and shouted loudly, "Rest in peace, comrades!"

The biting cold wind blew over the pile of corpses.

The eyelids of the body at the top seemed to gently close.

...

On a rugged mountain path, when the moonlight shone down, it cast a layer of white silver frost.

The Hall Master, revealing the true form of the Jiao Dragon, was drenched in blood, desperately fleeing through the mountain forest.

After the Demon Pill shattered, he fell to the Pulse Condensation Realm, losing even the power to fly, and could only flee in disgrace, using the terrain.

It would take several years to recover.

But escaping with his life was now his greatest fortune.

The Hall Master ran while looking back at the forest behind, a surge of overwhelming anger rising in his heart.

He had never been in such a miserable state, and this time, he truly understood what it meant to write the word 'defeat.'

"I will return to Xunyang Prefecture; once I return to Xunyang Prefecture, I will meet my uncle and tell him everything you've done!"

"Just wait, you will all die miserably; no one has ever lived well after crossing my Jiao Long Hall, you will all pay in blood!"

"And Qin An, once I recover my Outer Elixir Realm strength, I will personally take your head!"

The hatred in his heart was infinitely magnifying.

Especially thinking that all his plans were ruined because of Qin An, his anger became even more unbearable.

If it weren't for Qin An, the affair of the Blood Frenzy Elixir wouldn't have been exposed, and the Demon Hall wouldn't have lost so many Pulse Condensation Realm elders.

It would have been impossible to force him into such a dire situation.

At this moment, he had already placed Qin An on the must-kill list.

In front, the dense forest was as dark as ink, and even the moonlight couldn't penetrate it.

As long as he crossed this mountain, pressing forward for a few days, he could reach the boundary of Xunyang Prefecture.

The Hall Master felt slightly relieved in his heart.

Although he didn't know why Zhao Wuhuan and the All-Province Chief let him go, escaping with his life was a good thing.

For the time being, he couldn't care any more.

But just at this moment, an abnormal occurrence emerged.

An apparition-like figure descended from the sky, landing steadily in front of the dense forest, blocking the entire road forward.

The Hall Master, rushing forward, suddenly halted.

When he saw the person in front of him, his vertical pupils narrowed slightly.

Under the moonlight, Qin An, dressed in black, was approaching the Hall Master slowly with a straight blade in hand.

The breeze blew against Qin An's black clothes, making him appear like a ferocious beast under the night's curtain.

The powerful pressure of the Spiritual Vein Realm, along with Qin An's approach, exuded despairing energy.

Qin An raised the blade with one hand, his fingertips brushing over the Cold Star Saber's edge, his tone indifferent as ice, "I heard you wanted my head before, so I've come to deliver it personally."

With these words, the Hall Master's vertical pupils contracted sharply, immediately scanning around vigilantly.

But he saw neither the feared All-Province Chief nor Zhao Wuhuan.

"Is it just you who came after me?" The Hall Master's voice was frigid beyond measure.

Qin An raised his gaze lightly and said, "One is enough."

"Arrogant!" The Hall Master roared, "Even if I have fallen to the Pulse Condensation Realm, I still possess the profound foundation of the Outer Pill; how could you contend with me!"

"Since you're here, I will take your head!"

Just as he finished speaking, the Hall Master's claws grasped the air, the true form of the Jiao Dragon suddenly surged forth, carrying a mountain-like pressure as it headed straight for Qin An.

He wanted the entire Lingzhou to be devastated, wanted Qin An's head severed!

Since Qin An had come, he would first take Qin An's head, as a bit of interest.

Qin An's eyes remained calm as autumn water; facing the charging Jiao Dragon, the Cold Star Saber suddenly swung.

The cold light appeared, and the blade light poured down like the Milky Way, exceptionally beautiful.

Three Blades Unite!

Ice Flame Blood Transformation Saber!

This blade, he had never used; he had been waiting for this moment.

The cold light slashed towards the Hall Master's head, like cleaving the heavens and earth.

At the same time, Qin An's left hand clenched into a fist and struck out, the Blood-Burning Eight-Forged Dragon Demon Hand carried the sound of dragon's roar, breaking through the air!

To kill the Hall Master, he needed to strike with full force.

When a lion hunts a rabbit, it still uses its full strength, how much more for a terrifying Jiao Dragon.

He wouldn't give the opponent any chance of survival.

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