The Demon with Holy Radiance-Chapter 83 - 78: Penned Sheep, Immortal Master of the Demon Ban Association

Chapter 83: Chapter 78: Penned Sheep, Immortal Master of the Demon Ban Association

Before the dynasty fell apart, Jinlong City was known as the Southern Earth Wine Mansion and was once one of the ten largest cities in the dynasty.

The city was home to three major gangs: the Iron Tiger Gang, the Earth Evil Gang, and the Blood Bat Gang.

Although remnants of the former dynasty’s forces still garrisoned the city, they were mostly mere mortals. With only the strength of ordinary humans, it was nearly impossible to fend off attacks from Demon Fiends.

Therefore, both the City Lord’s Mansion and the local gangs would seek protection from the Cultivator Sects, petitioning the Immortal Mountain Sects to dispatch powerful Supervisors with high Cultivation Levels.

As long as they could provide the required offerings, they would receive the aid of these Cultivator Sects.

Under the protection of the City Lord’s Mansion and the gangs, mortals didn’t have to live in constant fear of Demon Fiend attacks.

「One early morning.」

At the headquarters of the Blood Bat Gang, one of the three major gangs, a member rushed to the residence of Gang Leader Jin Shou. He respectfully announced his presence, and only after receiving permission did he enter the room.

CLANG!

The heavy door slammed shut, plunging the room into darkness. The surrounding doors and windows were all covered with thick black curtains, allowing no light from the outside to filter in.

A thick, metallic scent of blood hung in the air, potent enough to make one’s head spin.

The Blood Bat Gang member knelt cautiously on the floor, prostrating himself and not daring to look up.

"Reporting to the Gang Leader... Master Wei took his men to East City... He’s back. Fourteen of our men are dead, and Master Wei is severely injured..."

After he spoke, the room fell deathly silent—so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After a moment, a sound echoed through the darkness. DRIP... DRIP... It was as if some liquid was falling from above.

The man instantly felt a cold wetness on his head, and his body went rigid.

"So, you’re saying East Fifth Street has been taken by the Iron Tiger Gang?"

A man’s voice drifted eerily from above. The prostrated man quickly pressed his body even lower. A foot then landed on his back, using him as a stepping stone to descend.

"Yes... East Fifth Street has been lost..."

The man on the ground pressed his head down even further until it touched the floor, his voice trembling.

"Is there any word from the Supervisor?"

"No. It’s been a month without any word.

Gang Leader, if this continues, the Iron Tiger Gang will seize all the territories under our control."

"What do the Hall Masters say? What is their opinion?"

"The Hall Masters’ consensus is that since we haven’t heard from the Supervisor, we should simply seek a new one."

The room fell silent for a moment.

"Let’s wait a few more days. If the Supervisor is simply busy and that’s why we haven’t heard back, then he remains someone we cannot afford to offend."

"Yes. I will take my leave."

Having received the Gang Leader’s answer, the man carefully got to his feet and prepared to leave.

"Oh, right. Go capture two more people for me. Make sure they’re handsome, and I want their skin left perfectly intact."

"...Yes."

... 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

’So this is Jinlong City? A small place like Yulan City really can’t compare.’

Yang An leaped from the Earth Worm’s back, gazing at the towering city walls in the distance. He was still some way from the main road outside Jinlong City, but he could already see many people coming and going.

The Earth Worm swiftly burrowed back into the ground, vanishing before Yang An’s eyes in an instant.

Although the creature was incredibly fast, he was unfamiliar with the regions of Han State, so it had still taken him longer than expected to arrive.

Yang An straightened his clothes and headed for the main road.

He had killed Pi Chu and was now taking over his Sacrificial Power—a gang known as the Blood Bat Gang.

The directory from his Second Senior Brother, Fu Ming, noted that the Blood Bat Gang was one of the three major gangs in Jinlong City. Its Gang Leader, Jin Shou, was even a Cultivator at the Early Stage of the Primordial Feeding Realm. His Hall Masters were also Cultivators, though their Cultivation Levels were much lower.

’The gang probably has no idea their former Supervisor is already dead.’

Yang An planned to head straight to the Blood Bat Gang after entering the city. He would assume the role of Supervisor and have them help him find what he was looking for as quickly as possible.

He stepped onto the main road and walked straight toward the city gate.

As he approached, however, Yang An noticed something strange. The guards at the gate weren’t collecting an entrance tax from people entering the city. They didn’t even spare anyone a glance, simply letting the crowds pass through unimpeded.

Yang An found this puzzling. ’Jinlong City is a major city, so its population must be enormous. How strange that they don’t charge a single coin for entry!’

’Does this mean anyone can just walk in and receive protection from the city’s powers?’

Once inside Jinlong City, he stood on a street and took in the bustling scene of people coming and going.

He could even see guards on patrol everywhere, along with travelers moving in large groups.

Yang An frowned as a sudden realization dawned on him.

’The powers within the city might seem ordinary, but their leaders are Cultivators, just like me.’

’From my point of view, this might seem odd.’

’But from the perspective of other Cultivators, it’s not strange in the slightest.’

’Cultivators and Demon Fiends share the same origin. Sometimes, they need things that can only be taken from these common people.’

’The only difference between them is the methods they employ.’

’Ultimately, to people like them, these commoners are nothing more than a flock of sheep in a pen.’

’They don’t collect an entrance tax because who would refuse more sheep wandering into their pen?’

’What seems free is often the most costly.’

’Still, on the surface, receiving protection from these powers and facing fewer Demon Fiend attacks means that many people get to live a bit longer.’

’Perhaps some people see the truth, but they don’t care as long as it means they’ll live longer than others.’

’This is an age of chaos.’

’The fates of ordinary people have always been in the hands of the powerful. They have no control and can only drift along with the current.’

Shaking his head, Yang An forced himself to stop thinking about it. ’This is just how the world is; it’s a systemic issue that no one can change. I don’t need to concern myself with it. My only concern should be how to look out for myself.’

He asked a passerby for the location of the Blood Bat Gang. Noting the fear in the person’s eyes, Yang An made his way toward the gang’s headquarters.

He hadn’t walked far when he suddenly heard the rapid clatter of horse hooves coming from beyond the crowd ahead.

"Out of the way!"

A harsh cry rang out, and the people on the street scrambled to the sides. A man on a tall horse came galloping through, closing in on Yang An’s position.

Caught in the crowd, the people around him were still looking on, unaware of the danger. Seeing no way to dodge normally, Yang An instinctively used the Cloud-Stepping Technique. In the blink of an eye, he slipped through the throng of people and reappeared behind the galloping horse, effortlessly evading it.

The rider knocked several people aside but didn’t stop, continuing to gallop toward the city gate. Yang An shook his head and paid the matter no further attention.

But as he resumed his walk toward the Blood Bat Gang’s headquarters, someone suddenly rushed up from behind and grabbed for his arm.

Sensing the movement behind him, Yang An instinctively sidestepped the grab. When he turned, he saw it was a woman he didn’t recognize.

"Immortal Master! You must be one of the Immortal Masters from the Demon Ban Association! I just saw you use Magic!"

"Please, Immortal Master, help me! Save my brother!"

"I’m begging you!"