The Demon with Holy Radiance

Part of it was pity for the common people, but Yang An also wanted to distinguish the Scripture Defector Association from a terrorist organization.

While the distinction didn’t truly matter, having a just cause was always better than the senseless slaughter of innocents.

In this world, public sentiment was the most worthless thing. The high and mighty Cultivators, sane or not, paid little heed to ordinary people.

It was a wonder so many people in this world were still alive.

Soon, Yang An activated the Bow Lady’s guidance system again and led the group toward the Golden Soul Sect’s branch in Chongwen State.

Less than half an hour later, they arrived at Mogu City in Chongwen State, the location of the Golden Soul Sect’s branch.

The branch was built right in the city center, occupying a third of its total area. All ordinary people were forbidden to approach.

It was the dead of night. Aside from the sect’s branch, the rest of Mogu City was enveloped in darkness.

Inside the branch, numerous disciples were on patrol, maintaining a constant state of alert.

It had been this way ever since the previous State Lord of Chongwen State had died.

High above the outskirts of Mogu City, Yang An and the members of the Scripture Defector Association floated in mid-air, looking down at the brightly lit branch below.

"I think we need a better plan," one of them said. "Even if there’s no Zombie God at the branch right now, rushing in blindly means we’ll be held up by countless Corpse Transformations. It won’t be easy to sneak into the Earth Palace."

"That’s right. He Tou said we don’t have much time. If we get tied down by those things, there’s no guarantee reinforcements won’t show up."

"Besides, even if He Tou knows where the Earth Palace is, finding the entrance this quickly won’t be easy."

Listening to the murmurs behind him, Yang An said nothing. He simply touched the Moon Talisman hanging on his chest.

In an instant, the Bow Lady materialized in his hand in its true form.

In the darkness of the night, Yang An casually drew the bowstring. A bright light instantly materialized in his hand, drawing everyone’s gaze.

"He Tou...?"

He drew the great bow taut, like a full moon. A dazzling, fiery trail streaked from his hand, and in an instant, the body of the bow erupted in brilliant light.

The members of the Scripture Defector Association all felt the terrifying power radiating from it. They instinctively recoiled, putting distance between themselves and Yang An as they stared at him in astonishment.

"If you’re afraid of being stopped, then just wipe them all out. If you can’t find the Earth Palace, then make it reveal itself. Don’t overcomplicate things. Often, the solution is simple—as long as you’re strong enough."

The Bow Lady had already locked onto the Golden Soul Sect branch. The arrow of light was like a magnificent meteor in the night sky.

A smile played on Yang An’s lips beneath his mask as he offered them all an unforgettable lesson.

"This is the fastest way!"

Then, he released the arrow. The bowstring snapped back, a blur of countless afterimages.

The next moment, beneath the black sky, a blinding light erupted from the center of Mogu City, instantly engulfing the entire branch compound.

Night turned to day in an instant. For ten thousand meters around Mogu City, it was as if the sun had risen.

The light reflected off the masks of the Scripture Defector Association members. They could sense the auras of countless Cultivators within the branch vanishing in that instant, as if they had been vaporized. Beneath their masks, their faces were etched with horror.

Beyond the sheer terror of the Light Magic, what was most important was that the power had been contained entirely within the Golden Soul Sect branch. It hadn’t spread to the outer residential areas.

It was as if the sun had fallen into the ocean, setting it ablaze with light, while the nearby land remained completely untouched.

Such precise control left them just as stunned.

The light persisted for nearly ten breaths. Everything within the branch—be it people or buildings—dissolved, utterly consumed by the radiance.

When the light faded, the entire branch had been razed to the ground. The surface had been completely obliterated, exposing a deep, subterranean area—the Earth Palace.

Inside the city walls and out, a dead silence now reigned.

A branch filled with countless Cultivators, all gone in the span of a few short breaths.

’Sure enough... This really was the fastest way. No time wasted at all.’

"What are you gaping at? Are you waiting for me to bring the loot to you and stuff it in your pockets?"

Seeing the Scripture Defector Association members still standing there dumbfounded, Yang An returned the Bow Lady to the Moon Talisman and added the reminder.

The members of the Scripture Defector Association finally snapped out of it and flew swiftly toward the exposed Earth Palace in Mogu City.

Now, nothing and no one could stop them.

A quarter of an hour later, the group reassembled outside Mogu City.

From the Earth Palace of the Mogu City branch, aside from a few truly useless items, nearly ninety percent of its contents had vanished, all stowed away in their Storage Magical Artifacts.

Yang An led them away. Based on the memories he had absorbed via the Bow Lady, he had no intention of leaving Chongwen State.

The most dangerous place is the safest place. Besides, they had to wait there for three months.

In the memories of Wen Hong, the former State Lord of Chongwen State, there was a well-hidden location within the state’s borders. It had once been a Forbidden Land, perfect for a temporary base for the Scripture Defector Association.

It was worth noting that from the moment the Scripture Defector Association arrived until they left, not a single commoner in Mogu City dared to show their face. The entire city was like a ghost town.