Chapter 1 Going to the State Capital

Xu Jingming, as an eighth-order limit existence, possessed a long lifespan and naturally had enough patience.

Every step on the path of evolution had to be steady. If one became impatient and took the wrong path, their mind power might stagnate or even decline.

"To the Demon Vanquishing World." Xu Jingming immediately transformed into a beam of light and flew into the Demon Vanquishing World scenario.

Demon Vanquishing World.

Xu Jingming and Wu Qi, master and servant, had arrived before a massive, towering city.

"As expected of a state capital." Xu Jingming looked at the majestic city before him. The city walls were dozens of feet high, stretching endlessly to both sides, and heavily guarded.

"This is the center of the entire Scarlet Cloud State." Wu Qi's hair was already graying. He looked at the city in amazement. "I heard that the state capital is over three hundred *li* long and wide, with a population of tens of millions. Over the years, we've traveled through all the prefectures of Scarlet Cloud State, and now we've finally arrived at the state capital."

Xu Jingming nodded.

He had been in Scarlet Cloud State for so many years. Scarlet Cloud State had hundreds of prefectures, each quite vast. Xu Jingming had traveled through an average of ten prefectures a year, visiting numerous counties. His travels had already been quite fast.

"Born in Scarlet Cloud State, one naturally has to see the state capital. Let's go, into the city." Xu Jingming brought Wu Qi along and entered the city through the wide gate.

Above the city walls, the guards overlooked them.

"Hmm?"

One of the black-armored guards glanced at Xu Jingming, took out a thick book from his chest, and quickly flipped through it, stopping at a certain page—

Wu Ming: High-Realm Demon Vanquisher (suspected to be in the eighth realm), born in Chen Village, Bai County, Cheng'an Prefecture, originally named 'Chen Qi,' later changed to Wu Ming. This person travels through the various prefectures and counties of Scarlet Cloud State, has a chivalrous heart, and will take action when encountering weak demons. To date, he has killed over a hundred Earth Demons, and countless ordinary demons.

Once stood up for ordinary people and fought with the High-Realm Demon Vanquisher 'Zhang Ke'! Zhang Ke was defeated and fled in disgrace.

Later, for a Heavenly Demon, Zhang Ke and three other High-Realm Demon Vanquishers besieged Wu Ming. In this battle, the two sides did not determine a victor.

Wu Ming travels everywhere, carrying a gunny sack, accompanied by an old hunchbacked servant named Wu Qi, who is skilled in swordsmanship.

"Demon Vanquisher Wu Ming?" The black-armored guard looked at the portrait attached to the paper. The portrait was lifelike, showing Xu Jingming carrying his gunny sack.

"Another High-Realm Demon Vanquisher has arrived; we must immediately report this." The black-armored guard instructed a companion and quietly left the city wall.

******

Xu Jingming and Wu Qi arrived at a restaurant and sat down by the window, ordering several of the restaurant's signature dishes. They ate and chatted.

"As expected of the state capital, this craftsmanship is truly excellent." Wu Qi ate happily and praised.

"If they didn't have skill, how could they open a restaurant like this in the state capital?" Xu Jingming held his wine cup, looking at Wu Qi. Uncle Qi had taken care of him wholeheartedly over the years. Xu Jingming wasn't made of stone; after spending so much time together, he felt that Uncle Qi was like his own family.

"Uncle Qi is old. They signed a contract in the real world, had their memories obscured, and descended into the Demon Vanquishing World, becoming original inhabitants of the Demon Vanquishing World. But all contracts have a set term. Once the term is up, their lifespan will be exhausted, they will die, and awaken in the real world," Xu Jingming thought to himself.

No matter who it was, even demons, who claimed to have unwavering obsessions and be immortal and indestructible.

Once their lifespan was up, they all had to die.

After all, they were almost all planetary lifeforms in the real world with limited lifespans, so they couldn't possibly stay in the Demon Vanquishing World forever.

"Uncle Qi, I wonder how long it is until your lifespan is up," Xu Jingming thought.

Suddenly—

A person walked into the restaurant. He had fair skin, making it difficult to tell his gender, and wore a white robe. Smiling, he walked to the table next to Xu Jingming.

"Brother Wu Ming, may I sit down?" the white-robed man said.

"So it's Brother Mi Jia, please do." Xu Jingming nodded. Having traveled through the various prefectures and counties of Scarlet Cloud State, he knew the information of the state's High-Realm Demon Vanquishers, so he naturally recognized the other party.

The white-robed man glanced at Wu Qi, then smiled at Xu Jingming, "I have long heard of Brother Wu Ming's great name, but Brother Wu Ming travels everywhere, and his whereabouts are unpredictable, so I never had the chance to meet him. Until today, Brother Wu Ming has finally come to the state capital."

"I go wherever I want, making the four seas my home," Xu Jingming said. "Brother Mi Jia, is there something you need from me?"

"My Demon Vanquishing sect, the 'Holy Light Sect,' has quite a bit of influence in Scarlet Cloud State. There are nine High-Realm Demon Vanquishers in the sect! Today, I've come to invite you to join, Brother Wu Ming," the white-robed man Mi Jia said. "After joining, we can work together to deal with Heavenly Demons, and the hope of capturing Heavenly Demons will be greater."

"Heavenly Demons are difficult to capture." Xu Jingming nodded.

Difficult.

In the more than ten years since he descended into the Demon Vanquishing World, he had only encountered a Heavenly Demon once.

That Heavenly Demon had disguised herself as a wealthy merchant's concubine, living a seemingly ordinary life. She concealed her aura, and even Xu Jingming couldn't see through her. Xu Jingming was willing to help ordinary people. While investigating a case, he traced it back to the source, that concubine.

The two sides had a battle. Although Xu Jingming had the upper hand, he couldn't capture the concubine.

At this time, Zhang Ke, a High-Realm Demon Vanquisher who had come to vent his anger, ambushed him with two companions, wanting to take the opportunity to seize the Heavenly Demon. Xu Jingming retaliated furiously. The Heavenly Demon seized the opportunity, taking advantage of the feud between the two groups of Demon Vanquishers, and escaped.

"Heavenly Demons all have powerful methods. It's difficult to find them, and even more difficult to kill them," Mi Jia said with a smile. "But if everyone joins forces, the odds will be much better."

"I appreciate your kindness, but I haven't joined any forces in all these years," Xu Jingming said. "I don't have that thought now either."

Mi Jia said softly, "Let me reveal some information. In the past six months, eight High-Realm Demon Vanquishers have been killed within the state capital."

"Oh?" Xu Jingming's expression changed slightly.

Even if there were conflicts between Demon Vanquishers, they rarely directly killed each other. Because they knew very well that even if they killed someone, they would just create a new account!

100 million universe coins might be painful for a seventh-order Star Realm lifeform. But for an eighth-order limit High-Realm Demon Vanquisher... it really wasn't worth mentioning.

"Is it a Heavenly Demon?" Xu Jingming asked.

Mi Jia nodded and said, "We have also tracked down some information about the High-Realm Demon Vanquishers who died. They did indeed die at the hands of Heavenly Demons."

Xu Jingming nodded. As long as they had contact information on the virtual world network, they could naturally inquire about the cause of death.

"The Heavenly Demons who did the deed weren't the same one," Mi Jia said. "In other words, there is a force composed of Heavenly Demons that is targeting High-Realm Demon Vanquishers for slaughter. At this time, Brother Wu Ming, it's better to join a force."

"Thank you for the information, Brother Mi Jia. I'll think about it carefully," Xu Jingming said. Although he wasn't afraid of death, dying—

—,

Each time, the Demon Vanquishing Magical Artifacts he had painstakingly refined would be lost, and he would have to create a new account, cultivate again, which would be very troublesome.

Mi Jia raised his wine cup, toasted Xu Jingming, and then floated away.

From his entry to his departure, no one in the restaurant noticed him except for Xu Jingming and Uncle Qi.

"Young Master," Wu Qi said with some concern, "According to this person, there is a group of Heavenly Demons targeting High-Realm Demon Vanquishers."

"All along, it has been Demon Vanquishers hunting down Heavenly Demons. Now, the Heavenly Demons are counterattacking." Xu Jingming was quite looking forward to it. After all, he hadn't killed a single Heavenly Demon in over ten years.

"Young Master, you must be careful," Wu Qi was very worried. "After all, they are Heavenly Demons."

★*****

In a secluded residence.

Several people were hosting an elderly man with gray hair.

"Sect Leader Gu, this Heavenly Demon's strength is extraordinary. Lord Tomiya is also a ninth-realm Demon Vanquisher in the Demon Vanquishing World. He fought that Heavenly Demon head-on and was killed in less than ten moves," a young man said. "This Heavenly Demon's strength is extremely terrifying, surpassing normal ninth-realm Demon Vanquishers. We were discussing earlier that we might need a Source Lifeform to descend in order to have absolute certainty of dealing with it."

"Sect Leader Gu has come, and he is also absolutely confident."

"Tomiya could block seven or eight moves in front of that Heavenly Demon, but in front of Sect Leader Gu, he probably couldn't even withstand three moves."

These people were all flattering him.

These few people were all ninth-realm Demon Vanquishers and were also the most terrifying old fellows in the entire Scarlet Cloud State, but in the face of this Sect Leader Gu, they all admitted that they were far inferior to him.

Because the gray-haired old man before them had too much fame, his historical battle record was too terrifying, and the *Youming Dari Secret Method* (Nether Great Sun Secret Method) he created was very famous in the Demon Vanquishing World. With this secret method, he had roamed the world undefeated.

"I also heard about the power of this Heavenly Demon before coming from Yi Country," Sect Leader Gu said. "As long as I'm within the state capital, I will definitely be able to detect the moment that Heavenly Demon makes a move."

"We have been searching for Heavenly Demons, but even if such a powerful Heavenly Demon is delivered to our doorstep, we can't defeat it," these people all sighed.

After all, they were all ninth-realm Demon Vanquishers, and Lord Tomiya couldn't withstand ten moves; they couldn't afford to provoke it either.

"There are indeed some extremely powerful Heavenly Demons that are stronger than ninth-realm Demon Vanquishers," Sect Leader Gu said calmly. In the Demon Vanquishing World, he was strong enough to sweep through everything unchallenged.

"By the way," Sect Leader Gu suddenly said, "I wonder, do you know someone named Wu Ming?"

"Wu Ming? I know him, of course I know him. In our Scarlet Cloud State, this Wu Ming is quite famous," a woman said with a smile. "He is quite sympathetic to ordinary people and even stood up for a group of ordinary people, fighting with another High-Realm Demon Vanquisher."

Up

"I received news that Wu Ming just arrived in the state capital three hours ago," the young man said.

"Oh?" Sect Leader Gu's eyes lit up.

Xu Jingming and Wu Qi checked into an inn and booked a private courtyard. As night fell, Xu Jingming and Wu Qi rested in their respective rooms.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Wu Qi draped his clothes over himself and went to open the door with a puzzled expression.

Xu Jingming also sensed a vast and mighty magical power fluctuation and immediately walked into the courtyard. He saw a burly old man with gray hair standing outside the door.

Looking at his eyes, his temperament, he seemed familiar.

"You are..." Xu Jingming wasn't sure.

"Gu Shan." The old man smiled.

"Senior Brother Gu Shan?" Xu Jingming was overjoyed.

"Junior Brother Wu Ming." Gu Shan smiled.

Wu Qi on the side was a little confused.

Xu Jingming explained simply, "Uncle Qi, I was fortunate enough to receive the Demon Vanquishing Secret Method. Senior Brother Gu Shan is my eldest senior brother in this lineage. I am the last to join, so I am the youngest junior brother."

"Oh." Wu Qi understood, and said happily, "Then I will go and have someone prepare some wine and dishes."

"Thank you, Uncle Qi," Xu Jingming said.

Wu Qi immediately ran out enthusiastically to find the inn's waiter.

Inside the room.

Xu Jingming and Gu Shan sat down at a wooden table. Xu Jingming helped pour tea.

"I really didn't expect to meet Senior Brother here," Xu Jingming said happily. "I remember, Senior Brother, you are not in Qing Country."

"The sect I established is in Yi Country," Gu Shan explained with a smile. "But my mind power index has now reached 10,000, and I am preparing to break through to become a Source Lifeform."

"You've finally reached 10,000? Congratulations, Senior Brother." Xu Jingming was also happy for his senior brother.

After all, his senior brother was over a thousand years old.

"I tried to break through on the virtual world network, and I succeeded eight out of ten times." Senior Brother Gu Shan shook his head. "Obviously, the preparations still need to be more thorough. Coincidentally, a friend told me that a terrifying Heavenly Demon had appeared in Scarlet Cloud State, Qing Country, and was actively attacking Demon Vanquishers. The more powerful the Heavenly Demon, the harder it is to find. And actively attacking Demon Vanquishers, I just need to wait patiently... and I will be able to wait for him to make a move."

"A Heavenly Demon that can overwhelm a ninth-realm Demon Vanquisher should be of some help to me," Gu Shan said. "If my mind power increases by just a bit more, I should have absolute certainty."

Xu Jingming could understand.

During the breakthrough, the body would be completely transformed into source power. Once it failed, the body would completely collapse and return to source power. That was complete and utter death.

So he had to have absolute certainty.

"Senior Brother, if there's anything you need my help with, just say it," Xu Jingming said.

"I know you descended in Scarlet Cloud State, Qing Country, and I happened to come here, so naturally I had to see you. As for help?" Senior Brother Gu Shan thought for a moment and said, "Just be more diligent in the state capital, actively go to deal with demons, and once you encounter a Heavenly Demon! The greater the commotion, the better. I can know immediately. That will be the greatest help."

"Don't worry." Xu Jingming nodded. This little thing wasn't worth mentioning.

"Becoming a Source Lifeform." Senior Brother Gu Shan sighed. "It's really not easy."

"In any case, Senior Brother will be breaking through soon. Junior brothers and sisters like us are still in the accumulation stage," Xu Jingming said. With a mind power index of over 5,000, he was still far from breaking through.

Senior Brother Gu Shan looked at Xu Jingming. "I can feel that your magical power has broken through to the seventh realm. You should have reached the eighth-order limit in reality?"

"Yes," Xu Jingming nodded.

"You joined the Yuanchu Research Institute only eleven years ago, right? Eleven years ago, you were still at the seventh order." Senior Brother Gu Shan praised, "This rate of progress, tsk tsk tsk..."

"The eighth-order limit is nothing to mention," Xu Jingming said modestly. The geniuses of the Yuanchu Research Institute all reached the eighth-order limit in a short time.

Senior Brother Gu Shan looked outside and said in a low voice, "There is one thing I need to remind you of, Junior Brother."

"Remind me?" Xu Jingming was puzzled.

The two senior and junior brothers talked in hushed tones.

Meanwhile, the inn's waiter came in with wine and dishes, accompanied by Wu Qi.

"Young Master, and this senior brother, try the inn's craftsmanship," Wu Qi also helped the waiter place the food and drinks on the table.

"Uncle Qi, you should go and rest. I want to have a late-night talk with my senior brother," Xu Jingming said.

"Okay." Wu Qi left with the waiter and closed the door.

Xu Jingming looked solemnly at Senior Brother Gu Shan. "Senior Brother, are you sure what you said is true?"

"Absolutely certain," Gu Shan nodded.