"Impossible! How did you resist the Enchanting Soul technique?!"
The tall cultivator’s soul nearly fled his body as he watched Xiao Chen emerge from the tunnel. "Stay back!"
"Enchanting Soul?" Xiao Chen looked at him. "You seem to know quite a bit. Does that mean what happened in the city was your handiwork?"
’I was just worrying about how to find the mastermind behind all this.’
’To think they’d be waiting right here at the exit.’
"It wasn’t us! Spare us, Senior! A Demon came into the city and started killing people. We’re victims, too! He captured us."
The tall cultivator dropped to his knees with a THUD.
He begged for mercy, explaining through tears, "He threatened to kill us if we didn’t do his bidding. The two of us had no choice!"
Xiao Chen didn’t believe they were innocent.
However, a sweep of his Divine Sense revealed one was at the ninth level of Qi Refining, and the other was at the sixth.
Considering the large number of late-stage Qi Refining cultivators in the city, it was unlikely that these two had the power to slaughter everyone.
’So there must be a mastermind behind them?’
Adhering to the principle of eradicating evil completely, Xiao Chen asked, "You said there was another Demon. What’s his Cultivation, and where is he now?"
The tall cultivator answered immediately, "Reporting to Senior, that Demon is a great Foundation Establishment cultivator, and he’s in the large courtyard at the city center right now."
"Take me there."
Xiao Chen grabbed the two of them and had them lead the way to the city center.
He pushed open the gate and crossed the front courtyard.
The first thing he noticed was a thick, floral fragrance.
Then, he saw a carved wooden puppet walking out from within the main courtyard.
The wooden puppet’s mouth began to open and close, but no sound came out.
’Hm?’
Xiao Chen looked at the tall cultivator who had led him there and saw the man staring right back at him.
He questioned him directly, "Where’s the Demon you mentioned? And what’s with this wooden puppet?"
"Impossible... Absolutely impossible!"
Hearing this, the tall cultivator became frenzied. "How are you fine? How are you unaffected? Who in the world are you?!"
"Hehehe~, little beauty."
Beside them, however, Er Dan had fallen for the trap. He walked straight toward the wooden puppet. "What a beautiful little lady. Come, let me dote on you."
He even stripped off his clothes and began rolling around on the ground, clutching the wooden puppet.
Xiao Chen immediately understood what he was supposed to have seen.
This was clearly some sort of illusionary technique, but its effects had been blocked by his Divine Protection Veil.
"AHHH~!"
A bloodcurdling scream rang out as the tall cultivator’s body suddenly swelled, rapidly transforming into a sixteen-foot-tall giant.
At the same time, the nearby doors and windows flew open, and vast quantities of blood streamed out.
The ground cracked open as well, revealing inscribed runes and row after row of Soul Lamps.
This was clearly an altar he had prepared long in advance.
Er Dan screamed as well. The wooden puppet was holding his body, but his head detached and flew on its own, drifting toward the giant’s chest.
Then, it bizarrely fused into the giant’s body.
The gushing blood formed a crimson curtain, blocking the space between Xiao Chen and the giant.
At the same time, the giant’s cultivation aura surpassed the Great Perfection of Qi Refining and began to climb higher.
"Li Huo Demon Vibration!"
Xiao Chen waved his hand and threw out the Fire-Storage Treasure Gourd. In an instant, thirty-six Li Huo Thunders erupted from it.
A massive explosion erupted, instantly leveling the entire courtyard.
Staring at the raging inferno before him, Xiao Chen thought for a moment, then manipulated the Fire-Storage Treasure Gourd to deliver a second volley.
"No—!"
As the second round of Li Huo Thunders fell, a shrill cry was heard, only to be cut short by the violent explosions.
’Such tenacious Life Force?’
Xiao Chen stood in mid-air on his sword, scanning his surroundings to confirm no one was around.
So he summoned his Profound Fire Crow and had it fire several more blasts of Profound Yang Fire into the very center of the inferno.
This time, no matter how many times he attacked, there was no sound from below.
After a long moment, the flames dimmed and the smoke and dust cleared.