Flesh Temple Transforms Shannan Prefecture! The Jing Dynasty Shocked, a Demon King of the Demon God Ministry Descends!

Shannan Prefecture, the prefectural yamen. By now, the entire city of Shannan had fallen under the Flesh Temple's control. Naturally, Lu Changsheng made his way to the prefectural yamen. Inside, a crowd of people trembled, their faces pale as paper. These were individuals from various prominent families and factions who had not managed to flee in time. The most conspicuous among them was, of course, the prefect of Shannan. "Y-you rebels! You breached Shannan City—this is the murder of imperial officials, open treason! The imperial court will surely dispatch a vast army and grind you all to dust..." "If you release me, there is still room for compromise in this matter..." The prefect seemed intent on making one final struggle. He wanted to live. After all, who would wish to die if they could stay alive? Even brought to such a state, the prefect clung to life. Looking down at him, Lu Changsheng let out a long sigh. "The mortal world is a sea of bitterness, and all living beings suffer. Originally, every person trapped in this bitter sea could have become a brother or sister within the Flesh Temple. "Regrettably, you took up the butcher's blade and slaughtered our brothers and sisters. Having done so, how could you be permitted to live?" Lu Changsheng shook his head and simply flicked his finger. Thump. The prefect's whole body shuddered. His heart was shredded in an instant, and he collapsed limp to the floor, all breath completely extinguished. Dead. The dignified prefect of Shannan had perished just like that, inside his own yamen. The remaining officials fell as quiet as cicadas in winter, gripped by boundless terror. "Spare us! Progenitor, spare our lives!" "We were all deceived by the prefect! We had no idea he intended to slaughter the Flesh Temple. It was all the prefect's fault!" "We are willing to convert to the Flesh Temple! We are willing to become blood scions! Please show mercy, Progenitor..." Seeing the prefect dead, they immediately shoved all the blame onto him. A dead man could not speak, in any case. Now they were truly terrified, wanting only to survive. "The hands of every one of you are stained with the blood of our scions. You deserve death!" Lu Changsheng felt not a shred of pity. While he indeed wished to convert as many people into blood scions as possible, he would never pardon those who had raised weapons against the Flesh Temple. Besides, Shannan Prefecture was vast and populous. What did a few fewer people matter? "Chen Ping, follow our established procedure and convert the people of Shannan Prefecture into blood scions. Heaven cherishes all living things; help them escape the sea of bitterness!" Lu Changsheng said placidly. "The Progenitor is compassionate. Your subordinate will make arrangements at once." Chen Ping bowed respectfully and withdrew. Returning to the rear courtyard of the yamen, Lu Changsheng recalled the battle outside the city walls earlier. Those eighteen greater demons had each been extraordinarily terrifying. Even Lu Changsheng had only brought eight Blood Scion Divine Guards this time—tertiary-growth blood scions capable of matching greater demons. They had been heavily outnumbered. Yet the outcome had been the complete annihilation of the eighteen greater demons. Killed in a single clash. Numbers! The sheer number of blood scions was undeniably potent. The Guard Army consisted entirely of secondary-growth blood scions. Once formed into an army, eight hundred guards could instantly slaughter eighteen greater demons. What if there were eight thousand guards? Could a demon king withstand them? What if there were eighty thousand? Could they sweep aside ancient demons? What if there were eight hundred thousand? Could they contend with a demon ancestor? Of course, Lu Changsheng understood that a demon ancestor might be different. A demon ancestor was equivalent to a Nascent Soul or a Martial Saint. And once one became a Martial Saint, everything changed. Beneath the Martial Saint, all were mere ants! Perhaps raw numbers would pose no threat whatsoever to a demon ancestor. Yet that did not matter. When the time came, Lu Changsheng himself could deal with demon ancestors. And below the level of demon ancestor, as long as Lu Changsheng had sufficient numbers of guards, they would likely be able to hold their ground against anything. "This world is far too vast, and it lacks the communication technology of the previous world. Trying to use that world's methods makes it impossible to spread the Martial Dao across the entire realm in a short time. "And if the Martial Dao cannot be spread across the entire world, condensing it through the will of all living beings is utterly impossible. "That leaves only the current approach. The spread of blood scions must be accelerated..." Lu Changsheng muttered under his breath. He wanted to quicken the propagation of blood scions. In truth, this entire realm belonged to demons. There were also vast numbers of humans living within the Demon Realm. However, those humans were largely treated as livestock and rations by true demons, their fates wretched beyond measure. Once granted the means to oppose true demons, they would become like sparks on dry tinder, certain to start a prairie fire. Once converted into blood scions, the true demons' greatest threat—their immortal power—became nearly useless. The flesh and blood of a blood scion could kill a true demon. In this way, even ordinary blood scions could fight true demons. Moreover, the Flesh Martial Dao could be cultivated. Blood scions could enhance their strength through practice, reaching secondary growth, tertiary growth, or even quaternary growth. Yet how should he spread the blood scions? After some thought, Lu Changsheng decided to take the initiative. Conquering territory place by place was simply too slow. One prefecture today, one province tomorrow—that was the pace of waging dynastic conquest. It was too sluggish, not the approach Lu Changsheng needed. He had only ten years! "The main force of the Flesh Temple must steadily claim the surrounding regions and eventually seize the Jing Dynasty, creating enough influence to sway every corner and touch the countless ordinary humans across the world. "Yet we cannot rely solely on this approach. The Flesh Martial Dao must also spread on its own. Rather, blood scions must spread to every corner of the world." After pondering further, Lu Changsheng summoned the Blood Scion Divine Guards at once. The Blood Scion Divine Guards had attained tertiary growth and entered the transcendent realm, but their numbers were limited—only several dozen in total. Yet these several dozen were like seeds. A single Blood Scion Divine Guard possessed immense survivability. As long as they operated covertly, they could certainly spread across the entire world. "Greetings, Progenitor!" The several dozen Blood Scion Divine Guards were deeply respectful, their eyes burning with fervor. Every one of them venerated the Progenitor before them. Lu Changsheng spoke, enunciating each word clearly. "The mortal world is a sea of bitterness, and all living beings suffer. Throughout this world, countless ordinary mortals still struggle in that bitter sea, dying helplessly at every moment. "Especially in the Demon Realm, where our fellow humans have been reduced to mere livestock for the demon race, their plight agonizing beyond words. "You were all once humans who converted into blood scions, having already escaped the sea of bitterness. Are you willing to help the humans in the Demon Realm escape it as well?" The several dozen Blood Scion Divine Guards did not hesitate in the slightest. With one voice, they shouted, "Progenitor, we are willing to help all living beings escape the sea of bitterness!" "Good. The several dozen of you will scatter into the Demon Realm to secretly multiply our blood scions and rescue our kin. "Remember, you need only develop in secret. Avoid direct conflict with the demon race as much as possible. "As long as you can convert ten thousand, a hundred thousand, a million, or even hundreds of millions of humans into blood scions, how could our great cause fail? How could the humans of the Demon Realm fail to escape the bitter sea?" The hearts of the Blood Scion Divine Guards surged with emotion. They seemed to grasp that they were about to embark on an immensely vital mission. A solemn weight settled over them. Rescuing the humans of the Demon Realm! What a noble undertaking! What boundless compassion! "Great and compassionate Flesh Progenitor, we will surely fulfill your solemn trust and rescue the suffering humans of the Demon Realm!" the guards shouted in unison. With resolute expressions, they turned and departed, heading off toward the Demon Realm through various routes. Watching the disappearing figures of the Blood Scion Divine Guards, Lu Changsheng wore a contemplative expression. These guards were seeds. In a few years, would these seeds take root, sprout, and grow into towering trees? It mattered not; the seeds had already been planted. Now, he needed only to wait quietly. "Taking over the Jing Dynasty still requires patience and steady steps. "Having seized Shannan Prefecture, we shouldn't act rashly for now. We must digest this territory first. "Moreover, with so many Blood Scion Divine Guards departing at once, the Flesh Temple's higher-level strength has taken a sharp hit. I must replenish it first." Lu Changsheng would have to labor again, converting large batches of blood scions. At present, however, he could only effortlessly convert secondary-growth blood scions. As for tertiary growth, Lu Changsheng himself had only reached quaternary growth. Elevating someone to tertiary growth required a tremendous price, which was not worth the cost. "I still need to break through to quinary growth as soon as possible. "Once I do, mass-producing tertiary-growth Blood Scion Divine Guards shouldn't be much of an issue..." Lu Changsheng resumed his secluded cultivation. He understood full well that his own strength was the foundation of everything. Furthermore, seizing Shannan Prefecture would not be taken lightly. It was very likely to provoke major moves from the Jing Dynasty, and he had to prepare early. *** The Jing Dynasty, the grand court assembly. The current emperor of the Jing Dynasty was merely an eight-year-old child. A young ruler required regents. There were two grand councilors acting as regents, while the empress dowager ruled from behind the curtain, representing a faction of her own. These three factions maintained a tenuous balance. Yet this balance was purely superficial and extraordinarily fragile. A single misstep could shatter it completely. At that moment, an official stepped forward with a memorial. "Reporting to Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager: heretics have caused chaos in Shannan Prefecture, establishing the Flesh Temple and assembling a rebel army. "Now, the rebel forces of the Flesh Temple have captured Shannan Prefecture. "Such treasonous rebels must be severely punished! We implore the court to dispatch an imperial army to suppress the Flesh Temple rebels!" Murmurs immediately broke out among the court ministers. Yet the two regent councilors did not react at all. Instead, they sat composed and unruffled. Clearly, they had received word long before this. Shannan Prefecture was by no means a small region. An entire prefecture falling to rebels was a massive event. No matter how far the Jing Dynasty had decayed into late-dynasty decline, it had not yet collapsed, and the colossal empire still retained some authority. Such an open act of murdering officials and raising rebellion naturally called for severe punishment! However, the two regent councilors understood clearly that this matter was far from simple. The Flesh Temple of Shannan Prefecture had defeated eighteen greater demons. With a mere eight hundred men, they had routed Shannan Prefecture's army of tens of thousands. Against such military might, how large an army would have to be sent to suppress them? Fifty thousand? A hundred thousand? Or perhaps two hundred thousand? And they would have to be the empire's most elite troops. Given the Jing Dynasty's current strength, mobilizing an expeditionary force of two hundred thousand would likely plunge the entire realm into immediate chaos. The regent councilors remained silent, but they had already instructed their subordinate ministers to speak out in opposition. In an instant, the grand court assembly dissolved into pandemonium, with everyone arguing fiercely. Cries of "traitors to the state" echoed through the hall. "Silence!" a eunuch suddenly shrieked in a shrill voice. The great hall fell quiet at once. From behind the curtain, the Empress Dowager spoke slowly: "What do the two honored councilors think should be done? "The rebels occupying Shannan Prefecture sets a terrible precedent. If left unchecked, others across the realm will follow suit, and where will the prestige of our Great Jing remain? "Yet dispatching a grand army to quell the rebellion carries immense complications, and food and funds are also pressing issues. "I have heard that true demons lurk behind that cabal of heretics in the Flesh Temple. Since true demons are involved, why not dispatch experts from the Demon God Ministry to Shannan Prefecture to execute a decapitation strike against the Flesh Temple? "Once the leadership of the Flesh Temple is slain, the rebels will lose their backbone and surely collapse in an instant. The crisis in Shannan Prefecture will be resolved with ease. "What say the two councilors?" Hearing the Empress Dowager's words, the two regent councilors exchanged glances. "A brilliant plan!" both councilors agreed, nodding. However, the Demon God Ministry was an exceptionally unique department. Even the regent councilors could not mobilize it. The Demon God Ministry had always remained in the hands of the imperial family. Presently, it was firmly under the Empress Dowager's control. It was precisely because the Demon God Ministry remained under the imperial family's control that, despite having lost practical sway over the military and administration, the imperial house could still counter the regent councilors, maintaining the three-way balance of power. "Very well. I shall issue the decree, instructing the Demon God Ministry to dispatch a demon god to Shannan Prefecture to quell the rebellion!" Thus, the Empress Dowager handed down the order on the spot. The decree reached the Demon God Ministry. The ministry was named after "demon gods." The strongest among them were demon gods. A demon god was, in reality, an "ancient demon." As for demon ancestors, they were the progenitors of all demons—terrifying existences dwelling high above in the Demon Realm. They rarely ever manifested in the mortal world. There were no demon ancestors in the Jing Dynasty. In fact, many human kingdoms had no demon ancestors at all. The strongest entities among them were ancient demons. As for why the demon ancestors of the Demon Realm had not stepped forth directly to destroy the human kingdoms, that remained a mystery. Very few knew the reason. Yet human kingdoms relied precisely on ancient demons and demon gods to endure and contend against the Demon Realm. Within the Demon God Ministry of the Jing Dynasty, the Empress Dowager's decree was delivered to the demon god. Reading the imperial order, the demon god let out a long sigh. "Able to wipe out eighteen greater demons... heh, this Flesh Temple is no simple matter. "They can also rapidly convert others into blood scions, and their flesh seemingly counters true demons, rendering the immortal power of true demons useless. "Those of the Flesh Temple refer to themselves as blood scions. If these blood scions truly are not demons, that would be terrifying. That would make them a completely new race of beings, distinct from humans and demons alike..." The Demon God Ministry actually possessed a vast amount of intelligence regarding the Flesh Temple. Their information was remarkably detailed, far more so than what the imperial court had gathered. The demon god keenly sensed that the Flesh Temple was extraordinary. "The current situation is dire. Ancient demons from the Demon Realm have infiltrated the Jing Dynasty, and the Demon God Ministry must ensure the safety of Jingdu; we cannot spare many people. "Hm, Gu Luo just emerged from seclusion. His human nature has barely managed to suppress his demonic nature; he can be sent on a trip to Shannan Prefecture," the demon god murmured softly. He had thought of a half-demon named Gu Luo. Gu Luo was extraordinary, carrying a trace of ancient demon bloodline within him. In theory, he possessed a chance of becoming an ancient demon, rivaling a demon god. Naturally, that was exceedingly difficult. Many demons possessed a trace of ancient demon bloodline, but those capable of truly becoming ancient demons could be counted on one's fingers. Nonetheless, endowed with that trace of ancient demon blood, Gu Luo's strength had already reached the peak of the demon king realm! If Gu Luo went to Shannan Prefecture, he alone could annihilate the Flesh Temple! Thus, the demon god issued the command. The half-demon Gu Luo departed the Demon God Ministry without a sound, making his way toward Shannan Prefecture. *** Time flew by, and three months passed in the blink of an eye. Inside a secret chamber in the rear courtyard of the Shannan prefectural yamen. Swish. Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. A glint of sharp light flickered in his gaze. The next moment, an attribute panel surfaced before his eyes. Host: Lu Changsheng Title: Flesh Progenitor Flesh Martial Dao: Quaternary Growth (45%) Looking at his progress in the Flesh Martial Dao, Lu Changsheng felt quite satisfied. In three months, he had reached 45%. That was roughly 15% each month. In truth, if he had cultivated step by step through ordinary means, Lu Changsheng would not have been able to maintain 10% per month, let alone 15%. After all, he had already reached quaternary growth. Yet an entire prefecture had indeed yielded pleasant surprises. A whole prefecture was vast in land and rich in resources. Under Chen Ping's thorough foraging, they had actually uncovered precious demon plants—and more than just one. With these demon plants, Lu Changsheng had consumed them freely to aid his cultivation, and his Flesh Martial Dao had progressed by leaps and bounds. However, in three months, the demon plants were nearly depleted. His cultivation speed would slow significantly moving forward. This inevitably tempted Lu Changsheng. Should he continue to expand? What if he controlled two prefectures, three prefectures, or even an entire province? How many demon plants would he be able to obtain then? At the very least, it should be enough to support him until he reached quinary growth, wouldn't it? "Chen Ping, has there been any movement from the Jing Dynasty?" Lu Changsheng summoned Chen Ping to ask. "Reporting to the Progenitor: according to our scouts, the Jing Dynasty is unwilling to dispatch a grand army to quell the rebellion, handing the matter over to the Demon God Ministry instead. "The Demon God Ministry is extremely likely to dispatch powerful half-demons to Shannan Prefecture. "Therefore, I have recently placed strict controls over every city gate of Shannan City, maintaining a tight defense to ensure that no half-demons from the Demon God Ministry can sneak in." Lu Changsheng nodded. He had always been confident in Chen Ping's handling of affairs. Still, would the Demon God Ministry truly dispatch a half-demon? Could it be a demon king? Lu Changsheng was actually quite curious. A demon king of this world was equivalent to his quaternary growth realm. Just how strong could one be? *** At that moment, in Shannan Prefecture, the half-demon Gu Luo was traveling not by the main roads, but along mountain paths and forest trails, taking in the countryside scenery along the way. He had already crossed the border into Shannan Prefecture. The moment he entered Shannan's territory, Gu Luo sensed that something was amiss. "Hm?" "The aura on these people is off. "Could they be the blood scions mentioned in the intelligence?" Gu Luo looked with astonishment at a group of villagers around him. They were truly just ordinary villagers. Yet they differed from normal impoverished peasants. Far from being sallow and emaciated, they were all broad-shouldered and sturdy, their faces glowing with vibrant health. At present, they were plowing the fields. Furthermore, they used no oxen; the villagers took to the fields themselves, working the earth like draft cattle. Every one of them possessed boundless strength, proving even more effective than actual oxen. Some villagers could even venture deep into the mountains to hunt, returning laden with abundant game. In addition, irrigation ditches had been systematically organized, and the crops were growing splendidly. Anyone could see at a glance that this year was destined to bring a bountiful harvest. There was even a glimmer of hope shining in the eyes of these villagers. Gu Luo was not detached from mortal life. Though a half-demon, his human nature suppressed his demonic side, leading him to always consider himself human. The same held true for the other half-demons of the Demon God Ministry. They all regarded themselves as human and thought as humans did. On his way from Jingdu, he had seen people living in utter destitution, famine plaguing the land. Only upon arriving in Shannan Prefecture did he witness a completely different scene. Smack. Right then, a child tripped and fell to the ground. A tooth was knocked out, and his hands were covered in blood. With a single stride, Gu Luo instantly rushed over and helped the child up. Seeing that the child was so badly hurt, he prepared to take him to a physician at once. "Where is your village's physician?" Gu Luo asked. "A physician?" "I don't need a physician. A little scratch like this is nothing; it'll be completely healed by tomorrow. "Look, it's already stopped bleeding..." the child said earnestly. Gu Luo looked closely. Sure enough, the child's bleeding had already ceased. Even the wound was slowly knitting together. Seeing this, Gu Luo's heart shuddered. "Such recovery speed... it rivals a true demon! "No, it is somewhat slower than a true demon's, but it is already remarkable. Even half the recovery speed of a true demon is terrifying..." Gu Luo's eyes widened. Clearly, this child was a blood scion endowed with extraordinary recuperative ability. Moreover, as a demon king, Gu Luo could distinctly sense that the child's aura was very peculiar. It was neither demon nor purely human. It was a blend—or rather, a completely new kind of aura. "I will take you back. Where is your home?" Gu Luo asked. The child answered, "My home is just up ahead, at the eastern end of the village." "Very well." Gu Luo carried the child on his back straight to the eastern end of the village. However, the moment Gu Luo set him down, the child dashed wildly into the midst of the villagers. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Quick, catch the spy! There's an imperial spy...!" At the child's loud cry, countless villagers came running at once. They brandished hoes, clubs, fishing nets, and the like. Every one of them was burly and robust, presenting quite an imposing presence. Gu Luo looked at the child with an eerie expression, his brows furrowing. "Little one, I carried you home on my back. Why do you return kindness with enmity and call me a spy?" The child held his chin high. "You're definitely a spy! The elders said the temple issued an order: any outsider who arrives must be captured and taken to the temple for judgment!" Gu Luo's brow furrowed even deeper. "I am not an outsider." "No, you are an outsider!" "How can you be so sure I'm an outsider?" "Because of your eyes! Look around—whose eyes aren't red among those who belong to the temple's blood scions? Only your eyes aren't red, so you're definitely an outsider, and definitely a spy!" the child insisted stubbornly. Gu Luo fell silent. He glanced at the villagers. Sure enough, whether men or women, adults or children, all of them had crimson eyes, completely different from his own. At this moment, a village elder slowly stepped forward. "Outsider, do not resist or struggle, or we will beat you to death. "Actually, you have nothing to fear. The temple's order is to send all outsiders to the temple. If you aren't a spy, you might even turn misfortune into a blessing and gain the chance to be converted into a blood scion. "That is something countless outsiders dream of. Lately, many outsiders have come here intentionally using this exact method, hoping to become blood scions." Gu Luo was slightly taken aback. Coming to Shannan Prefecture specifically to be converted into blood scions? Yet Gu Luo understood the reason almost immediately. Becoming a blood scion indeed carried immense benefits. Looking at these villagers, they had once been emaciated, numb, and devoid of hope, destined to starve to death sooner or later under such harsh conditions. Yet now, their lives were full of vitality. Not only did they have ample food and clothing, but even illness and pain were gone. Who wouldn't want to become a blood scion? Seeing these villagers, Gu Luo knew that Shannan Prefecture would likely never be reclaimed. In just a few short months under the Flesh Temple's governance, Shannan Prefecture had become orderly and thriving. Even the lowliest villagers took the initiative to catch spies. This showed just how fervently they supported the Flesh Temple. Under such circumstances, how could the imperial court ever win Shannan Prefecture back? Gu Luo even began to feel a sliver of curiosity toward the Flesh Temple. What kind of person could develop the Flesh Temple to such a state? This was something even the imperial court had failed to accomplish. In reality, though these villagers were blood scions and numerous, killing them would be as easy as turning over his hand for Gu Luo. Even if he wanted to leave, the villagers would never be able to stop him. Now, however, Gu Luo changed his mind. He no longer wished to flee. Instead, he would let himself be captured without resistance. He would allow these villagers to bind him and deliver him to the Flesh Temple. He would turn their plan to his advantage and use this opportunity to head straight for Shannan City. He wanted to see for himself just what sort of figure this "Progenitor" of the Flesh Temple truly was. "Fine, I won't resist. Come on," Gu Luo said, yielding without a fight. The villagers did not stand on ceremony; they tied Gu Luo up on the spot. They notified the Flesh Temple overnight, and people came to escort Gu Luo away. Before long, Gu Luo was escorted into Shannan City. Along the road, Gu Luo passed many other villages. Every one of them was identical to the first he had seen—or even better! Countless peasants had been converted into blood scions. Unafraid of sickness or injury, possessing boundless strength, and enjoying a secure environment, their agricultural production was thoroughly safeguarded. Nearly every household was living well. How could these people be called rebels? This was practically an imperial army of deliverance! For a time, even the half-demon Gu Luo found his convictions shaken. Certain notions deep within him began to waver. Should he truly kill "rebels" like these? Gu Luo pondered the question all along the way, growing more bewildered the more he thought. At last, he was brought to the Flesh Temple in Shannan City. There were far too many "spies" like Gu Luo—several hundred at least, with more arriving every day. Nearly all of them, once confirmed not to be spies, would be converted into blood scions, thus getting their wish fulfilled. Finally, it was Gu Luo's turn. One of the Flesh Temple's Blood Scion Divine Guards stepped forward to conduct the screening personally. Yet before the guard could make a move, Gu Luo exerted a slight bit of force. Snap. The ropes binding him shattered instantly. Clasping his hands behind his back, Gu Luo said indifferently, "Gu Luo of the Demon God Ministry! "I do not wish to slaughter unnecessarily. Have your Progenitor come forth to meet me." An aura belonging to a demon king naturally radiated from Gu Luo's frame. Boom! A terrifying pressure swept through the surroundings in an instant. Through mere aura alone, even tertiary-growth blood scions were pressed down so hard they could not even step near him. A demon king! This was a demon king standing supreme above all greater demons!