Chapter 572 - 465: Demon Infant
Ji An sat down, watching the team leaders as they began to busy themselves.
He initially thought about asking if help was needed for the dissection, but reconsidered, fearing it might be seen as disrespectful.
After spending half an hour, Yuan Hong’s belly was finally sliced open, and the team leaders’ expressions instantly changed.
The internal organs and abdomen were covered in black patterns, with a distinct bulging appearance, resembling exposed veins. More terrifying was the presence of a sand-pot-sized infant being nurtured below the chest cavity.
This infant was humanoid, with blood-red skin like a skinned frog, covered in black patterns.
A black horn grew from the center of its forehead, and there was a small hole at its temple, presumably the cause of its death.
"Nurturing a demon within the body; this guy is a Demon Cultivator, or perhaps he is a vessel for a Demon Cultivator’s nurturing of demons!"
A team leader exclaimed in shock, glanced around, and hurriedly added:
"Guard this place well, I’ll report to the Daoist Master."
Finished speaking, he almost rushed outside through the door before anyone could respond.
Demon Cultivators are forbidden existences in the Cultivation Realm, for to them, all living beings are mere consumables.
Ji An suddenly stood up and walked to Yuan Hong’s corpse; he was seated far away and couldn’t see the situation clearly here.
Once he saw what was inside, his expression became extremely complex. Despite his suspicions, realizing that a cultivator he had known for several years and had closely interacted with multiple times was indeed a demon cultivator was difficult for him to accept.
He gestured for the Geng Metal Spirit-Slaying Sword, controlling the Silver Flying Sword to slice through Zhang Le’s chest cavity and abdomen.
The other team leaders saw that he could accomplish, with relative ease, what had taken them much effort to do.
The effect of the magic technique surpassed that of spiritual artifacts. The level needed for such magic techniques! To be struck by such an attack, if not dead, one would undoubtedly be crippled.
Zhang Le was in the same condition as Yuan Hong, nurturing a demon infant inside.
Ji An contemplated many things in his heart. The situation had become troublesome; the involvement of demon cultivators would inevitably lead to a thorough investigation by the Immortal City.
The fact that he knew these two men would likely be revealed, inevitably implicating him.
"What the hell is this mess!"
Cursing inwardly, Ji An lowered his gaze and assessed the impact of these events on him.
Soon, urgent footsteps sounded outside the door.
A horse-faced cultivator strode in, followed by the team leader who had reported the incident.
The team leaders uniformly cupped their hands, "Greetings, Daoist Master."
The newcomer was one of the managers of the Law Enforcement Team, Cold Qilin True Man, named thusly because he tamed an Ice Chilong, reputedly only a step away from breaking through to the Golden Core.
Cold Qilin True Man’s expression was solemn; he merely nodded slightly, "No need for formalities."
He approached the two corpses, carefully examining the situation, and gestured for the Object Control Technique to extract and examine the demon infants.
The room became very quiet, and everyone subconsciously slowed their breathing.
After a moment, Cold Qilin True Man turned his head and asked:
"Where did the bodies come from?"
The team leader reported that he hurriedly came upon discovering the demon cultivators.
"It was delivered by this fellow cultivator."
Seeing everyone pointing towards him, Ji An lightly coughed and recounted the sequence of events:
"Daoist Master, I am Ji An. Today, I was invited as a guest to Black Tortoise Snow Mountain, and while returning along a cliff path, I encountered these two deceased individuals.
To add, we had some acquaintance; these two were Demon Hunting Cultivators, and I possess Talisman Making skills, regularly purchasing beast hides and Demon Beast Essence Blood from them...
They, accompanied by two others, launched an attack when I was unprepared.
I am a cautious person, maintaining high vigilance in the wild, thus preventing their success; I utilized the Geng Metal Spirit-Slaying Sword to kill them..."
The matter wasn’t complicated; he aimed to describe it clearly. The team leaders gazed at the corpses covered in countless wounds, their expressions filled with fear.
Cold Qilin True Man slightly nodded, giving Ji An a deep look, "Young friend, might you display the magic technique again so all may witness it?"
From the remnants of the Metal Technique Divine Intent on the bodies, he inferred that the magic attack was at the Golden Core level, yet the opponent was merely a Chao Origin Stage Cultivator, theoretically incapable of inflicting such a powerful attack.
"Why not," Ji An gestured the magic technique, a foot-long Silver Flying Sword emerged, imbued with Spirit Light, not ostentatious at all, with no leakage of Magic Intent.
With a gentle wave, the team leaders felt as if they had blinked, failing to see clearly where the attack landed.
Cold Qilin True Man’s gaze fell upon Yuan Hong’s head; a new hole appeared on the forehead, secretly startling him, realizing such a swift attack at close range was unavoidable for a Chao Origin Stage Cultivator.
The Metal Technique Divine Intent’s deadly aura spread; the team leaders abruptly realized.
"Young friend, a remarkable skill; even ordinary spiritual artifacts might struggle to resist such a razor-sharp attack."
Cold Qilin True Man paused, changing the subject:
"The circumstances regarding these two individuals need discussing with fellow daoists, young friend, you must remain here awaiting inquiry.
The matter concerning demon cultivators is immensely intricate; there’s no choice but to act thusly."
He spoke courteously, revealing the whole from one detail, seeing the fallen leaf knowing the autumn of the world; Ji An’s performance won him a favorable regard. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have explained.
"No problem, I am willing to cooperate with the Law Enforcement Team in the investigation. They have two accomplices; who knows what schemes they were up to."
Ji An understood this amounted to being placed under house arrest; however, when the demon cultivators were exposed, he had anticipated this scenario.
He emphasized using the Geng Metal Spirit-Slaying Sword while recounting events to demonstrate his prowess.
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